People wanting to organize a stellar party for a co-worker, loved one or friend, now have a new and improved Party City store in Federal Way where they can find all the essentials.

On Jan. 7, Party City opened its new revamped location at 31417 Pacific Highway South between PetSmart and Barnes & Noble.

With 5,000-square feet of additional retail space, store manager Rob Whitted promises customers a “better shopping experience.”

“The new space offers us the ability to increase our assortment (of party items),” Whitted said.  “We’ve doubled our candy size and doubled the party favors section.”

Before where there was half of one side of an aisle featuring candy, now Whitted said there is a full aisle. The same is true about party favors.

“We’re bigger and brighter,” Whitted added. “It was kind of darker there at the old location.”

Customers to the new store can expect more ease of travel and maneuvering down the wider aisles, Whitted said, and more lighting has been added.

Also included in the store is a personalization counter where customers will have the power to customize their own party invitations, banners and other licensed party favors. Whitted said if you want that Seahawks party, now you can.

Whitted said what pushed the move was the lack of space in the old location. With the increase in size and the increase in product also came a net increase of six employees, making for a total of 21 on staff, including a personalization specialist.

“We have a very versatile staff,” Whitted explained. “All associates are customer focused. We are all trained on how to customize a party. Training goes over invitations, to setting a room and a table, to blowing up balloons.”

Since its first store opening in Hanover, New Jersey in 1986, now with more than 800 company and franchise-owned locations in the United States and Puerto Rico, Party City has prided itself at stocking triple the assortment of party items compared to its competitors.

Whitted said the new Federal Way store will continue providing milestone birthday theme items for any age, wedding party products and something the chain store is expanding this year: keeping Halloween accessories out yearlong.

“Because kids like to dress up all year round,” Whitted said.

If You Go

For store location and hours, visit www.partycity.com. For store information, call 253-945-7310.