Toledo customers react to Party City and Big Lots nationwide closures

TOLEDO, Ohio — Both Party City and Big Lots announce plans to close all their stores nationwide this week, shaking up shopping habits for many in Toledo.

Party City, known for its party supplies and decorations, is closing all of its more than 850 locations, the company announced Friday.

Just a day prior, Big Lots announced that it will close its remaining 963 stores. This comes after it already shut down 400 locations earlier this year following its bankruptcy filing. Company officials said the decision came after it’s sale to a private equity firm fell through.

For local Toledo customers, the news was met with disappointment, despite ongoing “going out of business” sales.

Jacki Way, a frequent customer at Big Lots, said she’s disappointed to see such a well-known store close. She lives close to the Big Lots on Secor Road, and said it has become her favorite place to shop.

Cherilyn Stenson, a long-time Big Lots’ shopper, said she’s sad to hear the company is shutting down. She said her mom began taking her to Big Lots since she was young, and she’s been going ever since.

Stenson also said she shops at Party City often. She voiced concern for the affected employees at both companies.

“I feel really bad for them, especially during the holidays,” Stenson said. “I don’t know if they’ve lost hours by now. That’s very sad.”

In the Toledo area, five Big Lots and two Party City stores are set to close.

Exact timelines for the shutdowns have not yet been announced.