Party City Opens at Rutherford Crossing

March 19, 2011
By Rebecca Layne
The Winchester Star

WINCHESTER- In August, Janet Moore wrote a letter to the Party City Corp. requesting that the company put a store here.

On Friday, her wish was granted, as the 25,000-square-foot speciality party goods store held its grand opening in Rutherford Crossing - a 400,000-square-foot retail center on Martinsburg Pike (U.S. 11) at Interstate 81.

Rockaway, N.J.-based Party City is the country's largest specialty party goods chain, with more than 600 stores nationwide.

"This is just too good to be true," said Moore, 55. "I'm just thrilled they're here. I've just been so excited."

For Moore, not having a Party City in Winchester was a inconvenience.

As a member of Relay for Life, she has to prepare for the fundraiser's annual theme by purchasing festive trinkets and costumes. This past year, the theme was Mardi Gras, but she had to go to Leesburg and Hagerstown to find a Party City.

So she wrote a letter to corporate headquarters.

"It was serendipitous timing," said Jack Waghorn, president of NVRetail, owner and developer of Rutherford Crossing. "Party City was looking at store expansion in this area. It was a little bit of timing and a little bit of good luck."

Party City is joining Target and Lowe's, among other stores, at the shopping center. "[It] will bring more diversity to the shopping mix," Waghorn said of the store, which will have 25 employees.

In February, more than 7,500 people visited Rutherford Crossing per day, according to the company.

A still unidentified tenant will be moving into the 12,000-square-foot space next to Party City in September. An announcement is expected in the next month, Waghorn said.

- Contact Rebecca Layne at
rlayne@winchesterstar.com