EVERETT — After more than 40 years of business, Party City, the largest party goods retailer in the country, will close all of its stores, including locations in Everett and Lynnwood.
The company has over 700 locations across North America. On Friday, employees at the Everett location said they were not allowed to comment.
Corporate employees were laid off immediately without severance pay, CNN reported Friday. Some store-level employees received letters that said the company would close its locations and fire store staff Feb. 28, the outlet reported.
Helen Meadows, who was shopping at the Everett location Friday, said she’s sad the retailer is closing. She shops at Party City for holiday decorations every year. Next year, she’ll likely shop online.
Samuel Shigematsu, who was also at the Everett store Friday, said he relies on Party City for birthday party decorations.
“I’m surprised that they’re all closing,” he said. “I guess you could go to a dollar store or something.”
A helium shortage was one of the causes of a decline in sales that had worsened since 2019. In January 2023, the company declared bankruptcy to help clear about $1.7 billion in debt, The Guardian reported. Party City was left with about $800 million in debt after the company emerged from bankruptcy.
Jenna Peterson: 425-339-3486; jenna.peterson@heraldnet.com; X: @jennarpetersonn.
Will Geschke: 425-339-3443; william.geschke@heraldnet.com; X: @willgeschke.
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