Since 1986, Party City has been a go-to for party supplies, balloons and costumes.
But now the party’s over.
The New Jersey-based chain, which is the largest party supply store in the country, is shuttering all of its stores and going out of business.
CNN reports that Party City CEO Barry Litwin told corporate employees in a video conference meeting Friday that it would be their last day on the job.
“It’s really important for you to know that we’ve done everything possible that we could to try to avoid this outcome,” Litwin said at the meeting. “Unfortunately, it’s necessary to commence a winddown process immediately.”
Party City founder Steve Mandell at a store in Woodland Park (then West Paterson) in 1997.Kerrie Hagy | Star-Ledger file photo
According to the report, staff were informed that they would not receive severance pay.
Party City declared bankruptcy in 2023, and exited bankruptcy months later, closing some stores and maintaining others.
The company’s nearly four-decade journey started in Morris County.
Party City, which is headquartered in Woodcliff Lake, was founded in 1986 by Steve Mandell, who opened the first store in East Hanover. The business became a franchise in 1989, and was sold to AAH Holdings Corp. in 2005.
In 2023, Party City closed 22 stores — among them, a location on Route 46 in Woodland Park.
The party supply chain had more than 800 stores, including 25 in New Jersey.
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Amy Kuperinsky may be reached at akuperinsky@njadvancemedia.com and followed at @AmyKup on Twitter/X, @amykup.bsky.social on Bluesky and @kupamy on Instagram and Threads.
