Party City is quietly staging a comeback, but not as the big-box chain most shoppers remember. Instead of sprawling purple storefronts, the party supplier is popping up as mini shops inside Staples locations, tucked alongside copy and print counters. The move turns Staples into a one-stop scramble zone for balloons, decorations, and custom banners, and Chicago-area stores are already rolling out Party City assortments after the chain’s bankruptcy in late 2024 and sale in early 2025.
According to a press release via Business Wire, Staples and Party City have launched a strategic partnership to bring Party City products into more than 700 Staples stores nationwide and on Staples.com, with plans to expand to additional locations by the end of 2026. “By bringing Party City into Staples stores, we’re expanding what customers can accomplish in one place,” Marshall Warkentin, president of Staples U.S. Retail, said in the release. The in-store setups are designed to pair Party City’s balloons, décor, and tableware with Staples’ same-day print and marketing services for invitations, banners, and yard signs.
The reboot follows a rough chapter for Party City. The company announced a wind-down of corporate stores and filed for Chapter 11 in late 2024, shuttering hundreds of locations, according to The Associated Press. Its intellectual property and wholesale operations were later acquired by New Amscan, an affiliate of Ad Populum, for about $20 million, as Retail Dive reported, a deal that cleared the way for this store-within-a-store comeback.
In Illinois, Party City at Staples is already listed at multiple stores, and NBC Chicago identified at least eight locations across the state. Staples’ own Party City hub lets shoppers search participating stores and check which ones offer helium inflation and in-store pickup, while Party City’s store finder lists dozens of participating Staples across the country. For anyone racing to pull together a birthday, graduation or theme night, that means inflated bouquets and party kits are increasingly available without tracking down a standalone Party City.
What the in-store shops offer
The new in-store sections feature latex and foil balloons, helium inflation where available, party décor, tableware, costume accessories, and pre-made balloon bouquets. Customers can schedule balloon pickups through Staples’ website and app, according to the press release via Business Wire. Joel Weinshanker, CEO of Ad Populum, called Party City “the trusted go-to for balloons and party goods” as the brand extends its reach into Staples aisles. The rollout comes with promotional pricing and limited-time offers tied to graduation season.
Why it matters
Retailers have been scrambling to capture party-supply dollars left on the table after Party City’s closures, with competitors such as Michaels building up their assortments and big-box chains already in the mix, Retail Dive notes. The Staples partnership lands in the middle of supply-chain wrinkles, including a spring helium squeeze that has affected balloon availability, which makes reliable in-store inventory and scheduled pick-up a practical safety net for last-minute hosts.
Where to find one
To see whether your local Staples has Party City assortments in stock, visit Staples or use PartyCity.com for a searchable list of participating locations. For Chicagoland shoppers, those retailer pages and local coverage remain the fastest way to confirm which stores are live and what launch offers are available.
The rollout is still in its early stages, and Staples says it will continue adding Party City assortments through the rest of 2026. Shoppers are encouraged to check retailer sites for local availability and deals before making a party-supply run.
