It’s party time! ‘The Party Place’ opens

What fun it must have been to see a vision of a party store come together stocked with thousands of colorful party and celebration items.

That’s the joy Sharon Mercer experienced as her idea of a party shop for the Sahuarita/Green Valley community came together. Her shop, The Party Place, opened next to Fry’s on Sunday, Oct. 5.

From baby shower and birth announcements to bachelorette party invitations, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations and invitations, birthday party favors, balloons and novelties in every color, Mercer’s opening before the holiday season is ideal.

Whether planning a celebration for a kid, teen or adult there are theme choices galore. For young girls, there’s Tinkerbell and Dora-the-Explorer party favors while boys can go all out with Batman/Dark Nights, pirates, dinosaurs, camouflage and sports themes.

The Party Place is a happy and festive place. Just walking the aisles makes one want to plan a party. Gone are the days when party and holiday decorations consisted solely of crepe paper streamers — now for a party with a Southwestern theme there are vibrantly colored die-cut banners, coordinating party platters, inflatable coolers and even large easy-to-assemble paper cactus table centerpieces.

It was while working at Michael’s on Irvington that Mercer had the idea for a party store for Sahuarita. She hired a party store development company who did the store layout and initial ordering and added vibrant color to the walls.

What better colors to fill the walls with than primary colors of red, yellow and blue. It’s a perfect backdrop to display a varied selection of Mylar balloons for every conceivable occasion.

“I’m very happy with how it came out,” Mercer said of the 3,900-square-foot space.

Beyond tableware and decorative items for every occasion and celebration, The Party Place also has plates, cups and napkins in solid colors for picnics and barbecues.

And while there’s a big focus on kid’s parties, adults haven’t been forgotten. In addition to the popular Southwestern theme, Mercer and her husband Bill have everything needed for a cards and casino-themed party.

Mercer said that still to be added are party goods and favors for 70- and 80-year-old birthdays. She’s had requests for this and will oblige.

Special services include balloon bouquets and custom invitations and announcements for every most every occasion — in Spanish as well as English — from Festividades.

Knowing the importance of “Quinceanera” in the Spanish-American community, Mercer is making sure she has the celebration items for this rite-of-passage event for 15-year-old girls.

For kids, teens, adults and seniors, Mercer said, “We have just about everything for a birthday or theme party.”

The Party Place is open Monday thru Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. to 8 a.m., Saturday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The phone number is 396-3098.

Ellen Sussman is a freelance writer in Green Valley. Contact her at ellen2414@cox.net.