The party is over at Party City, according to CNN, which reported on Friday that the party supplies retailer plans to shutter its more than 700 stores nationwide at the end of February. More than a dozen of the company’s stores are located in the Bay Area.
“I’m really bummed. That’s a shocker,” said customer Ashwin, who was shopping for his 3-year-old son’s birthday at a Party City in Fremont when he learned the deflating news. “I hope they change their mind.”
According to Fox Business, only 29 franchise stores will remain open nationwide.
The New Jersey-based company, which opened nearly 40 years ago, reportedly plans to begin a “winding down” process immediately.
The CEO of Party City, Barry Litwin, reportedly delivered the news to corporate employees during a conference call on Friday.
In that call, CNN says employees were told they would not receive severance. Litwin reportedly said the …