What came first: America's obsession with Halloween or Party City? Steve Mandell launched Party City in 1986 as a single store in New Jersey. He sold cups, napkins and other supplies for birthday ...

LOS ANGELES (AP) — For nearly 40 years, customers flocked to Party City for Halloween costumes, favors for children's ...

SELYUKH: That’s Steve Mandell who, in 1986, launched Party City with a single store in New Jersey. MANDELL: I never, never expected Halloween to be anything like it. SELYUKH: And his original idea was ...