The party’s over for Party City in Encinitas — the emporium of celebration decor and trinkets is closing.
The store will close its doors on April 27, according to a store manager. Until then, the location in Encinitas Town Center off El Camino Real will be holding closeout sales.
Some of the discounted merchandise includes 40 percent off costumes, 10 percent off St. Patrick’s Day regalia and 5 percent off bags of candy.
Party City did not respond to the Union-Tribune’s requests for comment Monday, Feb. 26.
The retail chain’s overall sales and profits took a hit when in-person celebrations came to a halt during the coronavirus pandemic on top of an increase in competition from online retailers and pop-up shops and, more recently, helium shortages.
The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection at the beginning of last year and completed a restructuring in October. In turn, Party City eliminated nearly $1 billion in debt and closed underperforming stores.
With 800 locations nationwide, Party City is still the largest party supply store in the U.S.
The Encinitas store also had to contend with not selling a birthday party and celebration staple — inflated helium balloons. As of March 11, 2022, the city of Encinitas prohibited stores from selling balloons filled with helium or gas, which is lighter than air.
Encinitas council unanimously agrees to ban helium-filled balloonsNot being able to sell helium-inflated balloons was a “nail in the coffin” said store manager Gavin O’Donnell. He said that since the ban took effect, it took a bite out of the store’s sales.
Local customers could still buy deflated balloons from Party City, but they’d have to drive outside Encinitas city limits — just 10 minutes to Carlsbad — to get it filled with helium.
After this location closes, there will be 10 Party City stores in San Diego County. In its absence, the closest Party City locations in North County are in San Marcos and Escondido.
