Birthday parties just aren’t complete without all the accoutrement associated with them. Whether you’re throwing a Cindarella-themed bash for your six year-old princess, or an “Over-The-Hill” surprise party for your best friend, it’s often the little things that make the party memorable both for guests, and the Guest Of Honor. In the Metro Atlanta area, there are tons of places where one can find traditional or off-the-wall party supplies. Sure, you can look in the obvious places. But the stores which are “off the radar” are often the ones with the best supplies…
PartyCity– (Cobb Parkway/Smyrna,GA)
MON-FRI:9:30 AM – 9:00 PM
SAT:9:30 AM – 8:00 PM
SUN:11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
One of the best (and most popular) places in the Atlanta area to purchase party supplies, is actually the most obvious: Party City. A store dedicated to everything associated with parties, this franchise features just about anything you could possibly think of for your birthday party needs. The location on Cobb Parkway in Smyrna, GA is one of the best franchises the city has to offer. This particular branch always seems to keep the best items in stock, and appears to be a bit larger than other locations. What makes this store so great is that it is literally one-stop-shopping. You can purchase everything you need for a party without having to visit multiple stores. Paper flatware, balloons, streamers, and all sorts of goodies can be had at this store. Be careful however, if you’re looking for birthday supplies around Halloween. This store tends to sell out of key items very quickly around that time.
Target – (PerimeterCenter/Atlanta,GA)
MON-FRI:8:00 AM – 10:00 PM SAT: 8:00 AM – 10:00 PM
SUN:8:00 AM- 9:00 PM
Another fairly popular place to purchase birthday party supplies is good old, Target. This store, known for its wide variety of household goods, is a great resource for party supplies. While just about every Target store carries the same types of goods, I have found that the location at Perimeter Center (near Perimeter Mall in Atlanta) has a more customer-friendly set-up. The aisles featuring greeting cards, gift wrap, and ribbons are especially wide. Additionally, there is a $1 bin section towards the front of the store (near the grocery) that carries all sorts of trinkets. These items are terrific for grab bags. All in all, this Target location always seems to have an abundance of products in stock and is a great place to locate traditional children’s birthday party wares.
If you happen to be shopping for birthday party supplies at the Party City in Smyrna, and can’t seem to find all the products you need, you might want to head over to Michael’s in the shopping center adjacent to the one containing Party City. Michael’s is an arts and crafts store also known for offering a fairly wide selection of party goods and supplies. Here, in addition to balloons, party favors, and gift wrapping products, you can also find creative bakeware supplies. Michael’s also carries such things as greeting cards, invitations, and even books dedicated to party themes. Additionally, since this is an arts and crafts store, some of these supplies may be a bit cheaper than other locations which target birthday parties specifically; crafty people may also take advantage of the multitude of supplies available for those who like to host customized theme parties. There are also items for sale which make great gifts, like glassware, mini-fountains, and baskets. You can even find tons of odds and ends (including candy!) for door prizes or children’s gift bags. In essence, if you have lots of creative energy, you will love shopping at this store, as the ideas will be practically endless. There are quite a few of these stores in the metro Atlanta area. Another notable location happens to be the one situated on Piedmont Road in Buckhead. However, the Smyrna location seems to offer the best collection of goods and a knowledgeable staff.
For more adult-themed birthday parties, you may want to check out Spencer’s Gift and Novelty shop. These stores are most often found in shopping malls. Additional locations can be found at North Point Mall (Alpharetta), Stonecrest (Lithonia), and Town Center (Kennesaw) in addition to others. Known mostly for its politcally incorrect gags, tricks, and risque games, this store also has a pretty impressive collection of offbeat birthday party supplies. Party hats and favors seem to be Spencer’s specialty. This store is wonderful for those who are celebrating “significant” years like age 21 (legal age for drinking), and ages 30, 40, and 50. Spencer’s is notorious for providing fairly raunchy (but not quite Rated X) supplies. So, this store might not be the best place to take small and/or impressionable children.
Eddie’s Trick Shop – Marietta Square/ Marietta, GA
MON – SAT:10AM – 6PM Sunday – CLOSED
If you’re looking to throw an impressive blowout birthday bash, Eddie’s Trick Shop is the place to go. Eddie’s does not have an extensive inventory of birthday supplies (balloons, etc.), per se. However, large-themed birthday party hosts will love the huge array of costumes, magic tricks, party favors, kid-friendly gags, and games that they offer. This store is terrific for those who would like to host a party with a more theatrical flair. The store offers many costumes and face-painting supplies. And you may even find that the staff can help you to plan your bash, by pointing out certain items. Eddie’s Trick Shop is indeed the “specialty” store in the regard that the items do not have “bargain-basement” prices. To that effect, you may choose to purchase basic supplies at a more conventional store. However if you are in Duluth or Marietta (there are only two locations), you may find that Eddie’s Trick Shop has exactly what you need to pull off quite an extraordinary birthday party.
Pearl Arts Supply Store –Piedmont Road/ Buckhead MON – SAT: 9AM – 8PM
SUN: 11AM -6PM
Perhaps the most unlikely place to shop for birthday party supplies would be Pearl Arts & Crafts Supply Store. Known as the “World’s Largest Discount Art Supplier”, you may find that many of your birthday party supplies can be found here. However, don’t expect aisles and aisles of streamers, ribbons, and gift wrap. Instead, what you’ll find are excellent craft materials for kiddie grab bags. In fact, there is an entire section dedicated to children’s crafts. If you’re hosting a very interactive children’s birthday party, you’ll love the wide variety of art supplies and knick knacks available. Again, this is not your traditional birthday party supply store. So if you have specific needs in mind, it’s best to contact one of the staff members for help. One good thing about shopping here is that since it’s an art supply store, it is very rarely crowded. Additionally, the items sold are not typically seasonal. So you should be able to find many of the same items all year round.
