Dallas – Hobby Lobby announced that it will no longer carry Halloween‑specific merchandise, a move its founder and CEO David Green attributes directly to his Christian faith. Green told Faith Driven Entrepreneur that the retailer once generated over $22 million in Halloween sales before he felt “in my spirit that God says, don’t sell this.”
Faith‑Driven Decision Over Financial Gain
Green explained that after the $22 million figure was reached, he chose to exit the Halloween market, acknowledging the financial impact. “And so I got out of the Halloween business and I lost the sales,” he said. The comment resurfaced in a recent Newsmax report and aligns with Green’s long‑standing practice of aligning business choices with biblical principles.
Company History and Broader Seasonal Changes
Hobby Lobby’s 2023 corporate statement cited space constraints as the reason for discontinuing several seasonal lines, including Mardi Gras, Halloween and Hanukkah. The company said the decision was driven by the need to make room for stronger‑selling categories, not solely by religious concerns. Nonetheless, Green has repeatedly linked the Halloween decision to his personal convictions.
Founded in 1972 in Oklahoma City with a $600 loan, Hobby Lobby has grown to more than 1,000 stores in 48 states and employs roughly 50,000 people. The privately held retailer operates under a set of biblical values, closes all stores on Sundays for worship and family time, and recently raised its minimum full‑time hourly wage to $21, emphasizing its commitment to employees.
Market Context
Nationally, the Halloween season remains a lucrative retail period. The National Retail Federation projects total consumer spending of $13.5 billion in 2026, with $4.4 billion expected for costumes, $4.3 billion for decorations and $4.1 billion for candy. Approximately 74 % of Americans plan to celebrate the holiday, and shoppers anticipate spending an average of $115.14 per person.
Competitor Michaels continues to stock Halloween‑specific items, while Hobby Lobby focuses on traditional fall and Thanksgiving décor, pumpkins, scarecrows and other autumn‑themed products.
Local Expansion Amid the Change
Despite dropping Halloween merchandise, Hobby Lobby is expanding its Texas footprint. On October 2 the chain opened a 55,000‑square‑foot store at 4127 East U.S. Highway 377 in Granbury, its 121st Texas location. The retailer also operates a Dallas store at 8005 Park Lane, opened in March 2025.
For shoppers seeking Halloween‑related items, Hobby Lobby now offers general fall décor rather than a dedicated Halloween assortment. The decision reflects the company’s willingness to prioritize faith‑based principles over short‑term profit, a stance that resonates with many of its customers who value biblical values in business.
Original reporting: The Dallas Express — read the source article.
