Reanimated corpses are always a part of Halloween when a certain New Jersey-based seasonal retail chain comes a-haunting.

Because as we all know, Spirit Halloween sets up shop every year in the husks of big-box stores and other dearly departed businesses.

And, as a bit that aired in the season 50 premiere of “Saturday Night Live” notes, given the state of brick-and-mortar shopping, there are plenty of empty stores to inhabit across the country.

“When others leave, we show up,” Spirit Halloween community liaison Lauren Ashman, played by Heidi Gardner, says in the “SNL” bit (see video below). “We don’t see a dead-end town.”

“We don’t see an abandoned Kmart,” says another employee played by Michael Longfellow in the “SNL” sketch.

“We see a Spirit,” says Chloe Fineman, another Spirit staffer. “A Spirit Halloween.”

“Thanks to us, what used to be a condemned Auto Zone where a murder happened is once again a thriving business … where a murder happened,” Longfellow says.

Spirit Halloween has its flagship location in Egg Harbor Township, home to its corporate headquarters.

The chain, owned by Spencer Gifts, aka Spencer’s, since 1999, opened its first store in Castro Valley, California in 1983.

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Fineman goes on to expound upon the Halloween retailer’s offerings: “Wigs that give you a rash,” “single-use fog machines” and “costumes of famous characters tweaked just enough to avoid a lawsuit.” (Provided examples are “fat yellow worker” for the Minions, “candy slave” for Oompa Loompas and “blonde singing woman” for Taylor Swift.)

Ashman explains that Spirit Halloween also provides a crucial service by “creating six-week jobs for some of America’s hardest-hit perverts.”

Mikey Day plays a Spirit cashier who has to check the age of the person he’s ringing up (who wants to buy a “sexy nurse” costume).

Finding she’s under 18, he tells her he’s not legally allowed to help her.

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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup.

THE SCOOP

While one half of the New Jersey Devils have departed for Prague, the other group of players will finish up the preseason schedule for the Devils before the opener on Friday.

The roster will be comprised of players on the Utica Comets roster and players on PTOs hoping to earn a contract and the games will be coached by the Utica coaching staff, under the guidance of head coach Kevin Dineeen.

The Rangers will have a lot of their NHL players in the lineup, offering up a big task for the Devils.

New York is however dealing with a couple of injuries, the latest to forward Jimmy Vesey who left practice on Sunday

WHO’S HOT

Devils: There hasn’t been a ton of time for the Utica players to stand out, with the first few games of the preseason having NHL-heavy rosters.

Rangers: Chris Kreider has continued where he left off last season, with five points through this early preseason.

INJURIES

Devils: Pesce (leg), L. Hughes (shoulder)

Rangers: Vesey (unknown)

By Martin Dunn

On July 24, I appeared in front of the NJ Transit Board of Directors to ask questions about the death of a teenager on the tracks near Mays Landing nearly a decade ago. I specifically asked: Is the investigation into the case of 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante still ongoing, or, if it is closed, why has crucial evidence – including personal belongings — not been returned to the family?