Short Version: awesome store, great selection, enormous square footage so be prepared to spend some time, prices are higher than same items at Wal-mart.
Novel Version:
I come here once or twice a year for various party decorations.
At the immediate entrance are balloons. I'm guessing at least 100 different types. Starting with latex balloons that will last 4 hours, to square mylar balloons, to balloons that are life size, 'walk', and speak recorded messages. Prices range from $1 to $50. Staff will inflate balloons, add ribbon leashes, and bag them. Balloon anchors available in many themes. Also, there are individual letter & number stickers available for purchase to create a personalized message on the balloons.
I have saved mylar balloons and returned to have them reinflated for a different occasion, for a small fee.
One can also purchase air tanks & mass quantities of balloons for a festival or enormous gathering.
I came in one morning to buy a bunch of mylar balloons. By afternoon, one was obviously leaking and dragging down the others. I returned to the store and they cheerfully exchanged it for a fresh one.
However, even though one of the clerks recognized me from that morning, it was a huge deal to replace a balloon. Manager was consulted, the clerk from the morning spake a short testimony, etc. I finally dug through the car until I could find the receipt. I thought that level of security & protection was very extreme for one fricking balloon, especially since one employee personally recognized me. Really? Front staff don't even have the authority to switch out a defective balloon? Micromanaged indeed.
There is a huge candy display up front; these candies are 15 for $1. Huge selection. Dig through cautiously, there will definitely be opened/unwrapped candies that are sticky and have a history of abuse.
Front aisles are set up with the following general categories: current holiday decor, tableware separated by color, age/gender neutral decor themes (Tiki party), boys themes, girls themes, special occasion cards, wedding/bachelor/bachelorette/baby shower.
Kids Birthday Theme items include: tablecloths, cups & plates, party favors (several types for each), favor bags, birthday buttons, themed 'Happy Birthday' banner, table & wall decor, and usually a specialty face mask/hat/crown for the birthday kid.
Adult/Baby/Wedding sections contain what you'd expect, plus a bit more.
The back of the store is mainly costumes (adult & child). There is a dressing room. Costumes range from Roaring 20s, Old West, Superheros, Medieval, etc. Check out the clearance section for some deals.
One aisle is exclusively devoted to party foil confetti: punch-out stars, hearts, anything you can imagine, and usually in three sizes and multiple color arrangements. Never have I seen this smorgasbord of tabletop shinies anywhere else.
If the occasion is very important and you have selected a theme, I would order online or call ahead and ensure adequate supplies set aside for you. I have seen sections stocked one day and cleared out the next (usually a holiday or popular children's character).
If you shop one or two days before a holiday, you will be picking through the ratty items no one else wanted. Customers often explore items on the Party City website, and then come in to buy mass quantities of a specific theme. Holidays celebrated by fewer customers obviously have much less stock and it tends to go quickly: Chanukah, etc.
This place is huge. They have shopping carts at the entrance, which indicates exactly how huge! You will probably spend more time, money and energy than you planned at this store. If you haven't selected a theme, you will likely be overwhelmed with the enormity of choices.
For example: there are so many different types of Spiderman balloons (ranging widely in price) that it took me a lot of effort to choose just a few.
Decor items range from very inexpensive ($1 crepe paper streamers), to fairly expensive.
Other than the cashier guards, the staff was available, trained and friendly. read more
