SALEM — Even before Hurricane Sandy forced tourist attractions to close and out-of-state tour groups to cancel Halloween trips to Salem, October was shaping up to be a frightening month for some merchants and tourist shops.

Smaller crowds, fewer sales, and a general lack of enthusiasm among visitors seemed to permeate the air as much as the sweet scent of sausages and fried dough wafting from vendor carts parked on city streets, business owners said.