Panayotoy is the co-owner of the Chicago Costume Co., whoseyear-round store is located on the city's North Side. But inspeaking with GSR, he was referring to the company's temporarystore in Chicago's CBD, opened a few weeks before at the site of adefunct Briazz restaurant at 201 W. Madison. At the time, about twodozen people -- all adults -- were in the temporary shop,inspecting its sizable selection of kids' and adults' costumes,headgear, props, and Halloween novelty items.

"In October, we open in a few other places in Chicago," he said."I don't know what the numbers are going to be this year, but everyyear until last sales got better and better. In a good economy,people have money. In a bad economy, they want to party."

The Chicago Costume Co. is participating in a larger trend,according to the National Retail Federation (NRF) and the RetailCouncil of Canada, both of which have noted increasing Halloweensales in recent years, and which project a good 2004 for bothcountries. According to the NRF Halloween Consumer Intentions andActions Survey, spending is estimated to reach $3.12 billion in theUnited States, up from $2.96 billion last year. The Retail Councilof Canada estimates that Halloween spending in that country will beup 4% from last year¹s total of C$769 million ($618.7 million).