The balloons, wigs and costumes are fun to buy in person, which shielded Party City from online competition for a long time. For years, its stores would install a Halloween picture wall ...

SELYUKH: In fact, if you ask workers for Party City memories, balloons float to the top. JONATHAN DARCANGELO: Everyone on Saturdays and Sundays is on balloon duty. You tie balloons pretty much all day ...