In an unfortunate turn of events, Party City, a staple in the celebration industry, is gearing up to close its doors on over 30 stores across the nation. This decision comes after the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection earlier this year, marking a somber chapter in its history.
The pandemic, which took the world by storm, hit Party City hard. With lockdowns and restrictions, their sales dwindled, and the challenges didn’t stop there. Supply-chain disruptions in the subsequent years have left the retailer struggling to keep their shelves stocked. The shortage of helium, essential for those cheerful balloons that adorn our celebrations, added to their woes.
Party City’s ordeal began with the closure of 28 stores in 13 states before the bankruptcy filing on January 18. Now, they’re looking to break free from the leases of those shuttered locations, as reported by Retail Dive. The company was operating a total of 823 retail locations, with 770 of them being company-owned, according to court documents from January.
But the closure of these 30 additional stores isn’t just a result of the pandemic’s harsh impact; it’s also indicative of a broader economic trend. The uncertain economic climate, marked by fluctuating consumer sentiment, has made it difficult for many businesses to stay afloat.
In February, Party City first revealed plans to close 22 stores as part of its bankruptcy proceedings. In April, that number grew with the addition of nine more stores spanning California, Indiana, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, and Michigan. And now, four more stores in California, Texas, and Massachusetts have joined the list, as reported by A&G Real Estate Partners, the real-estate advisor overseeing the store auctions.
The closures are set to affect communities in several states, including California, Georgia, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, and West Virginia.
For Californians, the affected stores include Downey at 7171 Firestone Blvd, Lodi at Southwest Plaza on 2350 West Kettleman Lane, Marina at The Dunes on Monterey Bay at 125 Gen Stillwell Dr., and Palmdale at Amargosa Commons on 39451 10th St. West.
Georgia residents will see closures in Rome at 2702 Martha Berry Rd. and Cartersville at Cartersville Crossing on 451 East Main St.
In Iowa, the store in Waterloo at Crossroads Commons Shopping Center, 1415 Flammang Dr., will close its doors.
Illinois will witness the closure of the Bradley Commons store at 2060 N. State Rte. 50.
Indiana residents in Noblesville will say goodbye to Stony Creek Marketplace at 17160 Mercantile Blvd.
In Louisiana, the store in Slidell at Stirling Slidell Shopping Center, 61119 Airport Rd., will cease operations.
Massachusetts will witness store closures in Saugus at Sherman Plaza on 1160 Broadway Space #1160C.
Michigan residents in Holland at Felch Street Shopping Center, 3050 Beeline Rd., Ste. 20, Fort Gratiot at 4047 24th Ave., Benton Harbor at Fairplain Plaza on 1040 Fairplain Dr., and Jackson at Jackson Crossing on 1510 N. West Ave. will be affected.
Missouri residents will bid farewell to the Party City store in St. Joseph at East Hills Shopping Center, 3702 Frederick Ave., Ste. L12, Belton at Belton Gateway on 541 East Markey Pkwy., and Walker at Alpine Summit, 3175 Alpine Ave. NW.
In New Jersey, West Paterson at Mcbride Lenox Plaza Shopping Center on 1756 Route 46 will see its doors closed.
New Yorkers will be impacted in various locations, including the Bronx at Throggs Neck Shopping Center on 815 Hutchinson River Pkwy, the Bronx at Broadway Plaza on 171 W. 230th St., Buffalo at Boulevard Consumer Square on 4090 Maple Rd., Irondequoit at Culver Ridge Plaza on 2255 E. Ridge Rd., and New York at 223 W. 34th St. and 301 W. 125th St. Staten Island will also be affected with the closure of The Boulevard on 2636 Hylan Blvd.
In Ohio, the store in Lancaster at River Valley Plaza on 1320 River Valley Blvd. will be shuttered.
Oklahoma residents will witness closures in Lawton at Cache Road Square on 3801 NW Cache Rd., 19B, and Midwest City at Sooner Rose on 5825 SE 15th St.
Oregon will see the Corvallis store at Circle 9 Shopping Center on 944 NW Circle Blvd. closing its doors.
Texans in Corpus Christi at Five Points Shopping Center on 4101 Hwy. 77, Ste. K2, Garland at 3065 N President George Bush Hwy, and San Angelo at Sunset Shopping Center on 4141 Sunset Drive will experience the closures.
Finally, West Virginians in Beckley at Raleigh Mall on 4283 Robert C. Byrd Dr. and Martinsburg at Martinsburg Mall on 800 Foxcroft Ave. will also be impacted.
As Party City navigates these challenging times, it serves as a stark reminder of the economic challenges many businesses continue to face in the wake of the pandemic.
