What would you say in a eulogy for Party City? Have you shopped at Party City for memorable costumes, decorations, party favors or classroom awards? NPR wants to hear.
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Oh man, I remember all the times I drove past Party City. Never buying all the things that would be thrown out in a day. Guess I'm a real party pooper.
One less store profiting off of racial stereotypes as costumes? One less altar of late-stage capitalism's wanton consumerism? (I feel badly for the workers who lost their jobs, but I won't miss the contents of the store at all. SO MUCH waste, most of it plastic.)
I’ll always be grateful for the last minute Halloween costume selections after finally being convinced to come outside and go party Halloween night…one of my favorite past times with friends. I’m gonna miss you Party City 🕊️
I will very much miss Party City! It was great when you needed something in specific colors, and they had a great balloon selection. All my supplies for my middle school Y2K luau sleepover were from there.
I can’t speak to every store but the two I shopped at were not great - chaotic layout, hard time finding help, crazy long lines, and when you’re picking up balloons the day of the party and they can’t find them or haven’t even blown them up yet, it’s very stressful. So I’m not sad to see them go.
What special message can you give to a company that was taken over by a private equity fund through a leveraged buyer? A bankruptcy is the natural course of events.
Who tf would eulogize party city? It was a corporate business. Like obviously I feel sorry for the rank and file who lost their jobs but mourning the corpus capital itself is weird
People have fond memories of Party City?
Not being sarcastic, I know it as “the depressing place in the strip mall that sells mime makeup, party streamers, and things like that you can’t figure out where else to buy them”
It’s the “can’t find where else to buy them” is the key. I don’t want to go to Amazon to buy the specific things I need. I host unusual and artistic events… having this store allowed me to find a lot of weirdly specific things (& last min)
Also: friends w/ the workers that are now out if work.
Every fall I get a number balloon from Party City to celebrate my small business birthday. We’re up to 7 years. Tbh, it’ll feel bittersweet to have to find it somewhere else this year.
Photo from this year! My shop is Cake Plus-Size Resale in Minneapolis, MN.
Our local highschools have a "theme" for most of their sports, male and female. Basketball, football, swimming, wrestling, etc. The ONLY place to get items for different themes is Party City. The kids are all so upset now! 1/
I worked there for almost 10 years back in the 90’s. Met my life long friends there and we had a BLAST! No other store could top our Halloween decorations or how excited we got on the weekends dressing up in costumes. My best memories of high school❤️ This pic is missing a couple of important people.
They did a great job propping up commercial real estate after main brand box stores went out of business... They came in and provided a profit on the margins for real estate as well as Jobs for the community. But the party never lasts especially with Amazon corners the everything market. C'est lavie
Sad to see them go and will miss getting stuff for Halloween and St.Patricks Day there. This year, there will definitely be a whole lot more Spirit Halloween stores now because of this.
It has been my go-to for so many things. I often times need a last minute something for a show or an art installment and that was a place I went.
The last 2 years they Halloween Merch has been better than most dedicated Halloween stores.
They are going to be missed.
I really hate to see you go. You filled my childhood with lots of excitement. You will truly be missed. I really wished I could’ve helped in some way, because you just might still be here. Much love 💔
The last time I went into a Party City, there was only one employee, who was on lunch break. The store was badly stocked, and the one employee wouldn’t leave the counter because it was his lunch (which I get). This was about 5 years ago. I’m surprised it lasted this long.
My husband and I are obsessed with Halloween and throw a big party every year. Party City was the secret sauce. The winning purchase last year was an animatronic two-headed goat that blew fog from its nostrils.
I refuse to mourn the end of a corporation. Their poor choices is what led to this. If you sell the same cheap shit I can get online for half the price what purpose do you serve for me.
We found the most amazing, life-size inflatable Mylar storm trooper balloon at Party City that was the talk of our May the Fourth party—hope to re-inflate for years to come. They always had that one thing that tied a party together, but most of the rest of their products can be found almost anywhere
Right?! Whenever I say this, people look at me like I'm nuts! 😂 I work at a Michael's craft store, and wish I could say it to some customers! Season 4 is one of my favorites!
Thanks private equity firm Thomas H. Lee Partners who acquired Party City in 2012 through a leveraged buyout. This transaction saddled the company with significant debt, which ultimately contributed to its financial struggles and eventual bankruptcy. Nothing new to see here…
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_private_equity_owned_companies_that_have_filed_for_bankruptcy
Not being sarcastic, I know it as “the depressing place in the strip mall that sells mime makeup, party streamers, and things like that you can’t figure out where else to buy them”
Also: friends w/ the workers that are now out if work.
Photo from this year! My shop is Cake Plus-Size Resale in Minneapolis, MN.
Au revoir!
The last 2 years they Halloween Merch has been better than most dedicated Halloween stores.
They are going to be missed.
(202) 224-3254
Joni is a respected soldier who knows that Pete will politicize the military in unimaginable ways.
https://actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-your-senators-oppose-trumps-selection-of-pete-hegseth-for-secretary-of-defense/?source=watchdog
I moved from an expensive state to a state that was more affordable and that was huuuuge.
Party City, you will be missed.