Des Moines has three main party superstores that retail just about any party accessory you can think of or would need to make your event memorable. These stores dominate most of the party business but each has their own individual niche where they shine especially bright. The three stores: Nobbies, Party America, and Factory Card Outlet all have very similar characteristics; all are part of a chain (Nobbies is the smallest of the three, located only in Iowa and Nebraska while the other two are national chains); all are big box stores which have a lot of room making it easy for them to stock products for every type of category; and all share similar hours which extend around holiday seasons such as Halloween, Independence Day, and Christmas.
Nobbies: One thing is for sure, Nobbies goes all out for every major event but the biggest is Halloween. The entire store becomes one big Haunted House with every type of costume imaginable and the type of décor that usually only big businesses like casinos and amusement parks can bring in. Nobbies employs a full time Marketing Coordinator who works to assist customers to help plan the party of their dreams. Another thing they are known for is beautiful personalized wedding invitations that are up to 25% off most larger franchise stores. In the back of the store is a whole department devoted to everything balloons including single balloons, bouquets, arches, and helium tanks.
Location: 9999 University Ave, Clive
Phone: 515-457-7100
Hours: 9am-9pm (Mon-Sat)/10am-6pm (Sun)
Party America: Hands down the birthday party extrodinar of the group. Party America has decorations for first birthdays, and little girls and boys birthdays. Whether you are looking for Dora, Bratz, Happy Feet, Cars, Star Wars, or anything else you can think of, Party America has theme décor for it all. Table clothes, hats, streamers, name cards, and hard to find party favors are just a few of the things you can find. Best of all, it’s all broken down into easy to find sections. Like Nobbies, they carry a large selection of balloon bouquets.
Location: 6925 Mills Civic Pkwy, West Des Moines
Phone: 515-221-0469
Hours: 9am-9pm (Mon-Fri)/8:30am-9pm (Sat)/10am-6pm (Sun)
Factory Card Outlet: This store is a mix of the previous two. They carry a wide variety of costumes and birthday party supplies but not as extensive as either. Factory card, as the name would suggest, has the largest selection of cards for any occasion and is extremely clean and not as cluttered as the other stores can appear. With four locations in the Des Moines area, it is an easy and convenient solution for those that just need to get in and out (especially if the kids are along).
Location: West Ridge Shopping Center/ 10201 University Ave, Clive/ 515-267-0941
Haymarket Square/ 4349 Merle Hay Rd, Des Moines/ 515-334-7614
Delaware Centre II/ 2010 SE Delaware Ave, Ankeny/ 515-965-0211
Southport Shopping Center/ 6325 SE 14th St, Des Moines/ 515-256-9151
Hours: 9am-9pm (Mon-Sat)/ 10am-6pm (Sun)
The next three stores aren’t specialty party supply stores, but all have their own qualities that would make a party great.
A To Z Rental: As the name suggests, if you are looking for a party tent or furniture (such as lawn chairs, tables, etc.) A to Z is the place to call. They have unbeatable prices and are willing to work with people to achieve the look and setup they desire. Make sure to give A to Z plenty of notice especially around wedding and graduation season when rentals are in high demand.
Location: 1220 73rd St, Windsor Heights
Phone: 515-274-3455
Store Hours: Varies by season (recommended to call for appointment)
Paper Warehouse: This store has just about everything you will need in the way of paper products from invitations to table linens to plates and napkins. Seasonal patterns and bold colors are always available and are the cheapest in town when bought in bulk. If you are hosting a large event, visit Paper Warehouse to see the deals they can provide you.
Location: 5050 SE 14th St, Des Moines
Phone: 515-285-3999
Hours: 9am-9pm (Mon-Fri)/ 10am-9pm (Sat)/ 12pm-5pm (Sun)
Iowa Bounce House: Although they don’t have a store front, this is a must see for any parent planning a child’s birthday party. Visit www.iowabouncehouse.com to see all the varieties of giant blow up slides, jumping houses and all sorts of inflatable backyard rentals. Prices range from $120-$180 for 4 hours of pure entertainment. The best part is that they offer to have a staff member come and monitor the children jumping so that you are free to be serving cake and making sure things are running smoothly.
Phone: 515-202-9554
ENJOY!!
