Party City is closing one of its stores in Encinitas, California, partly due to a local law that hit its sales hard. Starting April 27, customers looking for party supplies will have to look elsewhere, as the store located 26 miles north of San Diego will no longer be open for business.
This closure comes after a ban on certain products affected the store's profit.
Encinitas Party City Suffers After Helium Balloon Ban
The Party City store in Encinitas faced a significant downturn after the city implemented a ban on the sale of helium balloons in 2022.
This move aimed to tackle the issue of single-use plastics and keeping the local beaches clean, which had become cluttered with balloon remnants, turning into what was described as a "zero-waste nightmare."
The ban came into effect as hundreds of pieces of balloon debris were found on the beaches, posing environmental concerns. Mark O'Connor from the Rise Above Plastics Committee in San Diego was a key figure in advocating for the ban, providing tangible evidence of the pollution caused by balloons.
"This is about 190 to 200 balloons. I've lost count now. Yeah, like I said, there's a couple of people that have given them to me too," O'Connor noted, showcasing a collection of both mylar and latex balloons along with their ribbons, as reported by KFMB in 2022.
This evidence highlighted the tangible impact of balloon litter on the environment, leading to the city's decisive action.
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O'Connor shared insights on the compliance with the city's balloon ban. "After we checked the businesses selling balloons since the ban, the compliance rate was amazing. Most stores stopped selling them on their own. A few needed an official notice from the city, but they complied," he explained.
The Surfrider Foundation, a non-profit organization, dedicates itself to protecting the ocean, waves, and beaches worldwide. In Encinitas, it's common to find O'Connor actively cleaning up single-use plastics and other debris at Moonlight Beach, emphasizing the community's commitment to maintaining a clean and safe environment.
Party City Closure Hits Encinitas: Final Sales Announced
Party City's Encinitas store is set to shut down on April 27, as confirmed by a store manager. Until the doors close for the last time, customers can find deals at the Encinitas Town Center location on El Camino Real, where a closeout sale is underway.
Shoppers can enjoy discounts including 40 percent off on costumes, 10 percent off St. Patrick's Day items, and 5 percent off candy bags.
The decision to close comes after a challenging period for the retail chain. Sales and profits suffered significantly when the COVID-19 pandemic stopped in-person celebrations.
This was compounded by growing competition from online stores, temporary pop-up shops, and recent helium shortages, adding to the company's challenges.
Party City, the largest U.S. party supply chain, faced financial hurdles, filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy early last year and closing several underperforming stores after eliminating nearly $1 billion in debt. Despite these challenges, the company maintained 800 stores nationwide.
However, the Encinitas, California, location encountered an additional obstacle when the city banned the sale of helium-filled balloons in March 2022, an essential celebration product. Store manager Gavin O'Donnell noted this ban significantly impacted sales, describing it as a "nail in the coffin" for the Encinitas store amidst the company's broader efforts to stabilize financially.
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