Buzz
Almost anything in life can become haunted. Whether it's a house, a person, a plot of land, or even a toy, ghosts seem to attach themselves to whatever they can influence. And yes, this includes retail stores!
From Walmart and Target to Sam's Club, various retail chains in the US (and even England) have experienced paranormal events, with hauntings tied to unfortunate site locations or gruesome past events. Spirits of all kinds, from friendly to vengeful, have been causing chaos in these stores as if they were starring in their own supernatural remake of Ghostbusters.
The silver lining is that we now have a definitive list of the 10 most haunted retail stores. Whether you choose to avoid them during your shopping trips or venture there purposely to hunt for more than just deals, the choice is yours.
10. John T. King Used & Rare Books
Detroit, Michigan, is teeming with potential hauntings. With its abundance of dilapidated buildings, abandoned factories, and a murder rate approaching one per day, it's no surprise that many places in the city are said to be haunted.
The most infamous haunting in Detroit’s retail scene, however, seems to be at John T. King Used & Rare Books. This four-story bookstore, which holds over 1,000,000 books spread across 900 categories, is also home to a couple of restless spirits.
The first ghost is believed to be a man who took his life on the third floor of the glove factory that now houses the bookstore, following a devastating rejection from a coworker. His presence is felt through cold spots, phantom footsteps, and eerie sightings, all of which were confirmed by a psychic.
The second ghost came along with a collection of books purchased from the estate of a murder-suicide victim. While not considered dangerous, this spirit reportedly plays tricks on employees by creating cold spots and knocking books off shelves.
9. Market Basket Grocery Store
In Wilmington, Massachusetts, there’s a grocery store called Market Basket. Christina Bush, a 25-year-old psychology major who has been with the company since she was 14, works there. Christina never believed in ghosts, nor had she experienced anything unusual at her local store, until March 2019.
While ringing up a customer at the bakery counter, Christina reportedly glanced up and saw an elderly woman in a white nightgown and haircap, standing barefoot just a few feet away, staring at her. Christina looked back down at the counter, then quickly up again... and the woman was gone.
Shocked, Christina searched the store for the woman, but she had vanished without a trace. After conducting some personal research into the incident, Christina found few answers, although others she spoke with shared similar experiences. One woman even claimed to have seen that exact ghost in her own home, just a few blocks away from the store!
8. San Francisco Safeway
The San Francisco Bay Area has its fair share of hauntings, but one of the strangest is at the local Safeway in the Sunset District. Safeway, a popular national grocery chain, is usually known for its infamous house-brand ice cream, but now it might be recognized for something even more chilling: GHOSTS!
The San Francisco Safeway is said to be haunted by at least one chilling ghost: a young boy, about 8 years old. Mostly appearing around midnight, this child has been spotted by several employees, often seen curled up in a fetal position on the floor or standing in a corner, facing the wall with his face hidden.
The Safeway was supposedly built on the site of an old hotel that was set ablaze for insurance money. It remains unclear whether the boy perished in the fire or if he was already there long before. Though his origins are unknown, his presence is undeniable for those who have witnessed him.
7. Dimond Center
Located in Anchorage, Alaska, the Dimond Center mall is a subject of debate. While few argue that it’s haunted, the discussions arise over the reasons behind its haunting.
Some claim the mall was constructed atop a burial ground, disturbing the spirits that rest there. Others disagree, arguing that the land was barren and covered in hard permafrost before the mall’s construction, and therefore, the ghosts must originate from the many tragic deaths within the mall, such as aneurysms, shootings, and Freon leaks.
Most seem to agree, however, that the ghosts are primarily found in bathrooms and hallways. The three most frequently encountered spirits are: The Woman, who allegedly died while mall walking; The Tall Man; and The Child. If you ever find yourself in Alaska, it might be worth checking out!
6. Alabama Sam's Club
In 2009, Oxford, Alabama made a fateful and cursed decision by allowing Walmart to build a Sam’s Club in their town. While this alone wouldn't typically stir up trouble, this particular Sam's Club was built on land that required the destruction of Native American cultural mounds, using the dirt as fill for the foundation.
Former Oxford Mayor Leon Smith insisted the mound 'ain't never been a burial ground,' claiming it was merely a natural formation, possibly used for 'smoke signals.' Despite the ongoing disasters during construction, such as sinkholes and severe economic issues, the project continued as planned. Meanwhile, Mayor Smith, who was not Native American, tried to deflect criticism by claiming he was 'full blood Indian.'
Although the Sam's Club itself hasn’t experienced much paranormal activity since its construction, the numerous accidents and setbacks during the building phase suggest that the land may indeed be haunted, if not outright cursed.
5. Guitar, Amp and Keyboard
Brighton, England, is no stranger to ghosts, like much of Britain, but one of the most intriguing is the rock and roll ghost haunting Guitar, Amp and Keyboard. This specter has been caught on video at least twice, playfully haunting customers and causing trouble with the store's merchandise.
One video captures the ghost as a full-body apparition, walking towards a customer who remains blissfully unaware. Another, filmed after hours when the store was closed, shows the ghost (now invisible) shaking guitars and tearing a price tag off a Fender before tossing it to the floor.
While there could be rational explanations for the guitars moving and the price tags flying off, neither I nor the store owners can come up with any. Perhaps it's the restless spirit of a frustrated rock star, stopping by for one final performance before heading to the afterlife.
4. Seawall Walmart
Galveston, Texas, much like Brighton, is home to its fair share of ghosts and ghouls. But none seem to make as lasting an impression as the spirits haunting the Seawall Walmart.
Built atop the grounds of the former St. Mary’s Orphan Asylum (Walmart, maybe pick better places for your stores!), the Seawall Walmart has been plagued by hauntings since its construction. St. Mary’s, destroyed by the 1900 hurricane, was the site of a tragic loss: 90 children and 10 nuns, all perishing in the storm. That's a lot of sorrowful energy to curse the land for generations.
And curse it it seems to have, as several ghosts have been reported within the Walmart’s walls. The most famous is the ghost of a child, crying out pitifully for its mother. Other spirits are said to giggle and, according to employees, even play with and steal pallets of toys! Personally, I think they've earned that right.
3. Murder Kroger
While Atlanta, Georgia may not be the most haunted city in the state (that title belongs to Savannah), it certainly boasts some of the most unique hauntings. Forget Civil War ghosts or Victorian spirits — Atlanta is home to the infamous Murder Kroger.
Murder Kroger, as the name implies, has been the site of at least four murders since 1991. The first, Cynthia Prioleau, was tragically shot in the parking lot. In 2002, a body was discovered in a car in front of the store, followed by a murder in a nearby building, and another shooting occurred in 2015.
While there’s been no concrete proof of a ghost, many locals living around the Kroger claim that the entire area gives off a sinister vibe, a palpable sense of anger lingering in the air.
That is, until they demolished it and built a new Kroger in late 2019. The new store, featuring a roof covered in grass and beehives, has taken on the infamous name but, so far, the bad energy has yet to make an appearance.
2. Pike Place Market
Seattle, Washington is home to what may very well be the most haunted location in the entire state: Pike Place Market. With at least five distinct spirits roaming its halls, this market is rife with unexplained knocks, cold spots, and strange noises that go bump in the night.
From the apparitions of Princess Angeline, a frail Native American woman draped in a red scarf and clutching a basket, to Jacob, a young boy who frequents the bead shop, each ghost at Pike Place Market has its own unique personality and backstory.
One of the most intriguing spirits is Nora the Psychic, who supposedly resides within a crystal ball in Shiela’s Magic Shop. It’s said that she moves the shop's inventory around during the late-night hours.
1. Sunnyvale Toys 'R' Us
Ah, California—where the sun shines, the beaches beckon, and apparently, so do ghosts! Among the most notorious is Crazy Johnny, the spirit who haunts the Sunnyvale Toys ‘R’ Us.
The legend of Crazy Johnny goes that he was once a preacher working for Martin Murphy, the owner of the land where the Toys ‘R’ Us was eventually built. Johnny, who was reportedly suffering from encephalitis, had an unrequited love for Murphy’s daughter, Elizabeth.
However, Elizabeth had her heart set on marrying a lawyer, which devastated Crazy Johnny. In his grief and fury, he lost control of the axe he was using, striking his own leg and severing an artery. He bled out within minutes.
But death wasn’t the end for Crazy Johnny. Legend has it that he rose again as the notorious ghost of the Sunnyvale Toys 'R' Us, where he’s been seen opening and closing doors, sending papers flying, whispering over the intercom, and scaring several psychic investigators.
