You can build a pretty impressive mall with all the retailers that have closed in the 2000s.
Bon-Ton and Lord & Taylor could serve as anchor stores while Borders and Circuit City would draw crowds who like to browse. Sports fans would also be well-served as your mall could offer Sports Authority and Modell's.
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People who like a discount would also be well served as recent bankruptcy victims Tuesday Morning and Christmas Tree Shops could be featured as could their predecessors Century 21 and Ames. Kids would also be well-served as your mall of departed retailers would be able to offer both Toys R Us and KB Toys.
That's actually a pretty small sampling of the dozens of retailers that have gone out of business just in the past few decades. The covid pandemic, of course, did not help matters nor has higher interest rates which makes it harder for chains that file Chapter 11 with the intention of reorganizing to get the money they need to make changes.
There are success stories. David's Bridal was recently rescued from almost-certain liquidation at the last minute. Party City which filed for Chapter 11 in January hopes to become one of those happy survival tales.
The chain has plans to be taken private but while it works on making that deal, the popular store has a new model that might help it breathe some new life.
Image source: Shutterstock
Party City moves into Winn-Dixie
Offering stores-within-a-store has become increasingly popular. You could argue that the concept helped Best Buy (BBY) -) with its turnaround and it has been a key part of Target (TGT) -) being able to compete with Walmart and Amazon. Even Macy's has embraced the idea with a revived Toys R Us appearing in every one of the chain's locations.
It's a simple concept. Give people more reasons to visit your store. When someone goes to Target they can get more than groceries, clothes, and the chain's usual lineup. Customers can also get a coffee from Starbucks, meet their makeup needs at Ulta, and pick up some Disney gear or Apple products.
With brick-and-mortar chains competing with the convenience of the internet, it simply makes sense to give people more reasons to want to leave the house. That's a model the Winn-Dixie grocery chain has decided to test by adding a Party City to one of its grocery stores.
Party City is a good match for Winn-Dixie
When you're planning a party you probably need to go to a grocery store. At a chain like Winn-Dixie, you can pick up a cake, beverages, plates, napkins, and any other grocery-related supplies you need.
Party City, however, has a much deeper selection of party favors, balloons, and all the little things that can make a party -- especially a kid's party -- stand out. Bringing the party supply chain into the grocery store simply makes it easier for whoever is throwing the party.
That's why the newest Winn-Dixie location features “Celebrations by Party City,” a store-within-a-store take on the bankrupt retailer.
"Located at the regional grocer’s store in Apopka, Florida, the department offers items including helium and air-filled balloons, tableware, celebration decor, kid and adult birthday supplies, and piñatas," RetailDive reported.
The store-within-a-store model aims to offer customers a more convenient and versatile shopping experience, Party City shared in a press release.
“This partnership allows us to be a one-stop shop for party essentials while customers do their grocery shopping,” Winn-Dixie Chief Merchandising Officer Dewayne Rabon, added.
Party City has closed over 30 stores as part of its bankruptcy process. The chain, at the time of its Chapter 11 filing, had 770 company-owned stores and just-over 50 franchised locations that are not part of the filing.
