At its height, The Party Shop employed more than 100 people and its products were staples at birthday parties and Halloween bashes across Jacksonville.
But the shift to online sales, social media and a helium shortage are among the reasons owner Amal Soni will soon be blowing up the last balloon at a business that has been a part of Jacksonville since 2002.
Soni and his wife at one time operated The Party Shop at two locations, along with a handful of Halloween stores that popped up around town each season.
Now, the final Party Shop store at 9041 Southside Blvd. is going out of business as the cost of helium floats ever higher.
“The medical industry and China are willing to pay a lot more than party stores for helium. So that's caused shortages and price increases. Prices more than doubled in the last couple of years,” said Soni.