Halloween is here, with costumes and candy and stores full of spook.

Retailers set up seasonal stores for Halloween and Christmas-Hanukkah and sometimes just as a trial run. With more vacant spots in shopping centers since the recession, pop-up stores as these short-term locations are called, have become increasingly popular.

The Halloween stores - Halloween Express, Spirit and Halloween City - are opening now across the country. And malls are adding stores and kiosks aimed at Christmas-Hanukkah shoppers.

"In our industry, these stores have developed a following with shoppers for gift items that are popular, " said Rachelle Crain, marketing and sponsorship director at The Mall at Wellington Green in Florida.

"We're seeing more of them these days compared to back when quote, unquote times were good," said Peter Crane, leasing agent for Cohen Commercial Realty, which has a Spirit Halloween in Village Royale Shopping Plaza in Royal Palm Beach. "It's the perfect opportunity to get at least some money."

At Wellington Green, Crain said, shoppers will see Toyzam opening Oct. 1 followed by Christmas Ornaments, Calendar Club and Hickory Farms.

At Boynton Beach Mall, Pamela Kluge-Rada, director of mall marketing and business development, said Go! Calendars/Go! Games will move in for the holiday season, and other stores are in the works.

Real Estate broker Beth Azor who buys and manages shopping centers for her company, Azor Advisory Services, said pop-up stores are a creative option for shopping center owners who have empty spaces and retailers who want to try a new location or a new idea.

"It benefits both the landlord and the retailer," she said. "Maybe the short-term lease will turn into a long-term lease."

Emily Roach contributes to the Malled blog on PalmBeachPost.com.