Party City

Image by sfmission.com via FlickrParty City (wikipedia) is the largest retail party supply store in the United States and Puerto Rico, with more than 500 corporate and franchised locations. Considered the "category-killer" of all party supply retailers, Party City sells decorations, wrapping paper, helium balloons and custom made balloon bouquets, plastic eating utensils, tableware, paper plates, party music CDs, small toys, candy, and other items of a similar nature themed for birthday parties, weddings, baby showers, graduation, communion, conformation, christenings and holidays.

Party City was founded by Steve Mandell in 1986 in East Hanover, New Jersey as a one-stop party supply store that would take the hassle out of party planning. The company grew in the late eighties with the opening of franchise stores in the Northeast region. The first Party City franchise store was opened in Hazlet, New Jersey in 1989. Also in this year, the first Corporate office was established in Randolph, New Jersey. By 1992, Party City opened stores in Georgia and Tennessee. Soon after, the company opened stores in California, Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Texas, and Puerto Rico. From 1996 to 2004, almost 250 corporate stores were opened. In December of 2005, the Party City retailer was acquired by Party City's largest supplier, Amscan. In 2006, Party City moved to it's new headquarters on Green Pond Road inRockaway, New Jersey, where it currently operates 249 company-owned stores and 258 franchised locations. Party America joined Party City when Amscan Holdings acquired the company in late 2006. And in 2009 Party City acquired Factory Card and Party Outlet. Together, Party City and Party America are the top two companies in the party industry.