Long Island party supply stores: Where to shop with Party City closing
Michelle Karazia, of Huntington Station, exits 110 Party Supply in Melville with balloons for her daughter's birthday. Credit: Barry Sloan
Across Long Island, locally owned party businesses are stocked full of supplies awaiting milestone celebrations. They may not have the miles of aisles found at the likes of big-box retailers like Party City, which recently announced its winding down of operations (though some do), but they're all brimming with products, creativity and ideas to make an event sparkle.
Party Animal North Fork
53345 Main Rd. Unit 5-3, Southold
Kathy Laureano-Cilio, left, and Amanda Giuliano, co-owners of Party Animal North Fork, inside their shop in Southold. Credit: Randee Daddona
Colors of paper goods and balloons are laid out like tones on a painter's palette at this jewel box of a store in the Feather Hill shopping center. "We call our store tiny but mighty," says Kathy Laureano-Cilio. She and Amanda Giuliano, both interior design professionals, opened the shop in January.
Their approach is uniquely holistic. "The latex balloons that we use are 100% biodegradable," Laureano-Cilio explains. "With our vendors, we try to use women-owned or veteran-owned businesses or small startups," she adds. "All of our main line paper plates are made from recycled products and the coatings are nontoxic." Beyond favors, napkins and banners, they offer table settings, balloons and arches and towers. They have do-it-yourself kits along with rental of an air machine for those who want to go it alone. You'll find everything from baby shower items to a line for "teeny bit older" women. "Amanda and I are both inspired about celebrating life's moments," says Laureano-Cilio, "so we try to use that energy and propel it forward to help people to celebrate their big moments."
Jennifer Klodnicki, of Cutchogue, shops at Party Animal North Fork. Credit: Randee Daddona
NOTABLE FINDS: 12-inch balloon $1.75, bunny-ear headband $4, balloon centerpieces starting at $21 and 8-foot towers starting at $149.
MORE INFO: 631-765-8377, partyanimalnorthfork.com
Cedarhurst Party
538 Larkfield Rd., East Northport
Credit: iStock
Celebrating its 49th anniversary, Cedarhurst Party has miles of aisles. David Rosenberg, who lives right in town, co-owns the store with his father and brother. "We've had our location since 1976, and my grandparents were in the business in the 1960s." That's as mom-and-pop as it gets.
The shop offers a huge selection of aluminum catering pans, paper and plastic tableware, seasonal decorations, banners and all kinds of birthday goods. There are wishing wells and bridal chairs for rent, along with helium tanks. "More and more it's become balloons, balloons, balloons. That's the big thing," Rosenberg says. "Everything from the first birthday to the hundredth birthday, we have something." After nearly a half-century on Long Island, Rosenberg has seen a lot of changes. "The reward is seeing customers coming back for the last 49 years ... It's nice, the relationships we built up with the people and the community."
NOTABLE FINDS: Aluminum pans starting at a few dollars, wishing well rentals from $29.99 to $49.99 and bridal peacock chair rentals $49.99. May require $150 deposit.
MORE INFO: 631-368-5200, cedarhurstparty.com
110 Party Supply
925b Walt Whitman Rd., Melville
Nadine Pugliese, owner of 110 Party Supply in Melville, uses helium to inflate balloons for a birthday party order. Credit: Barry Sloan
Owner Nadine Pugliese is seeing an uptick in business. It's not surprising, since she says she's been competing with Party City for more than 13 years. "We do personalized balloon decor and party planning and balloon delivery," Pugliese says. Costumes year-round, 50% off greeting cards, paper goods, team spirit and catering items are all there, but the key, she says, is the personal touch.
"We're a small mom-and-pop retail store. We know our customers by name," she says. "We'll meet with the customer, go over colors and help them decide on what kind of balloon centerpieces or arches or columns would fit their party the best." But that doesn't mean you'll be paying a premium. "I think that's one of our biggest challenges — that perception that a mom-and-pop store is going to be more expensive." Pugliese says she stocks half-price items and aims to keep products affordable.
Party supplies, holiday decor, balloons and greeting cards for sale at 110 Party Supply in Melville. Credit: Barry Sloan
NOTABLE FINDS: Hundreds of half-price greeting cards, balloon centerpieces from $11.99 to $49.99 and outdoor balloon arches for $300.
MORE INFO: 631-425-4838, 110partysupply.com
The Brat Shack
830 Merrick Rd., Baldwin
A small store with big ideas, The Brat Shack can outfit you with everything from 35-cent printed ribbons to a full wedding display for $1,100. You can even rent the throne chair Jennifer Lopez used on her 55th birthday. "There was an event planner that rented that from us," says owner Parnell Augustine. "We also had Ashanti at an open mic. She sat on one of our chairs." How did such big names arrive in Baldwin? Augustine credits their website, which has been up since 1997.
Need a giant sneaker centerpiece? The Brat Shack has it. Balloon rings, towers and arches? The shop has those, too. "We do a little bit of everything," Augustine says." We’ll do the linens, rent tables and chairs in the summertime. We do a lot of things for schools, football games and graduations." For something super-personalized, he says, "We do custom labels. We can actually take your picture and add it to favors like chip bags and chocolate bars. Whatever your theme is, we'll be able to incorporate it."
NOTABLE FINDS: Personalized chip bags from $1.95, silver or gold throne chair rental $200.
MORE INFO: 516-377-4330, thebratshack.com
