Picture this: a store packed with balloons, costumes, and enough glittery party hats to rival a Pioneer Day parade. Now, imagine it vanishing overnight. That’s right, Utahns—This major party store is packing up, and the party is officially over.
No More Balloons, No More Fun
Party City, the ultimate go-to for overpriced party supplies and last-minute “Oh no, I forgot the streamers!” runs, is shutting down all 850 of its stores in 2025. Say goodbye to rushing into a store that somehow always smelled like balloons and faint desperation.
The company’s CEO, Barry Litwin, shared the grim news in a virtual meeting, announcing an immediate shutdown. To add insult to injury, there’s no severance pay, no benefits, and not even a farewell celebration. Talk about the least festive send-off ever.
Why Did the Party Fizzle Out?
Even the lords of latex couldn’t handle the perfect storm of inflation, rising costs, and competition from e-commerce behemoths like Amazon. And that helium shortage? Pretty hard to sell balloons when you can’t make them float. With debt higher than the peaks of Mount Timpanogos, Party City finally folded.
What This Means for Utah
For Utahns, this hits harder than forgetting to bring Jell-O to a potluck. From St. George to Salt Lake City, Party City was a staple for birthdays, weddings, and every school dance that required last-minute decorations. Now we’re left wondering where we’ll find cowboy hats, glow sticks, and a wall of themed plates all in one place.
Spirit Halloween will probably snatch up the empty spaces, but let’s face it—there’s no replacing the year-round chaos of Party City. Your next best bet? That lonely party aisle at Target.
The End of an Era
Party City’s downfall isn’t just a Utah tragedy; it’s part of a national trend. Big chains are shutting their doors faster than you can say “farewell fiesta,” leaving mall spaces emptier than Temple Square on a Monday morning…