Party City closes after 40 years, leaving customers sad to see it go.

On a busy Sunday amidst the chaos of last-minute holiday shopping, Stephanie Tariga made a quick stop at Party City on Western Avenue in North Center. She and her husband were in the midst of planning a Christmas party for their friends and needed some festive decorations. As she perused through the aisles filled with Christmas ornaments, Tariga couldn't help but feel a sense of sadness upon hearing the news of the store's closure. However, the large sale that accompanied the news was too good to pass up.

"We heard that Party City was going to have a big sale because they're closing down, so we decided to come here," Tariga explained.

It was the end of an era as the nation's largest party supply store chain announced its closure after nearly 40 years in business. In a meeting with employees on Friday, the company revealed that it would be "winding down" operations immediately, with plans to close more than 700 stores nationwide by February 28th, according to CNN. Corporate employees had their final day on Friday, marking the end of an era for the popular store.

This was the second time in less than two years that Party City had filed for bankruptcy. In January 2023, the company filed for Chapter 11 protection, which allowed them to eliminate almost $1 billion in debt. However, the company continued to struggle, leading to this decision.

In a statement, Party City acknowledged the challenges they faced in trying to stay afloat. "The decision was made following exhaustive efforts by the company to find a way to continue operations in a tough environment, with rising costs and a decline in consumer spending, among other factors," the statement read.

For Tariga, who is an alum of Lane Tech High School located across the street from the store, Party City holds a special place in her heart. She used to frequent the location when she was a student there. The store is one of five in Chicago, with dozens more scattered across the suburbs and the state, as per the company's website.

However, Tariga wasn't surprised to hear about the store's decline, attributing it to competition from online giants like Amazon. "I used to come here all the time when I was in high school, but not so much now that I'm older," she explained. "Amazon is just more convenient, especially with the option to order from your phone."

Dalia Marouf, another shopper at the North Center location, was picking up some last-minute items for her daughter's second birthday. She mentioned that Party City was their go-to place for balloons and party supplies, and now they were unsure where to turn to with the store closing down. "It's sad to see these big corporations shutting down," Marouf expressed.

Amy Wojak, who was holding onto a pile of Christmas supplies, had stopped by the store after hearing about the closure and the "50% off the entire store" signs outside. She used to visit Party City about five times a year and was now unsure where she would go for her party essentials. "Where will I get my balloons now?" the North Center resident wondered. "I guess I won't be using balloons anymore."

Wojak admitted that she would most likely turn to Amazon for her party needs, but the closure of Party City would still be felt in the neighborhood. "It's going to be missed," she said with a hint of sadness in her voice.

The closure of this beloved store will undoubtedly leave a void in the community. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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