Total Party

Never again. It just wasn’t that great. Super over priced. Manager lady isn’t attentive. Store isn’t clean. saw 2 bugs while here. Gross. Never ever again.

I’ve been coming here for several years to prepare for my son’s birthday and never had a bad experience. I have always found the staff very accommodating and helpful. The prices are very as good or better than Amazon (pleasant surprise). I wish they had a better Mylar balloon selection/​catalog and variety of non-​standard shapes. Tip — buy the balloon bag option. One year I learned my lesson — It’s worth the investment.

Great store, full of awesome decorations and costumes. The staff are enthusiastic about the business and very helpful. We are going back to search for our Halloween costumes and decorations.

Have lived here years and had no idea this was here. Staff is so helpful and they have everything!

There is a long line to get into the store on Halloween so if you forgot something small then I’d recommend going somewhere else.

I am really confused about the low ratings on this store. I went in looking for accessories for my halloween costume and found them!!! After countless costume stores that were constantly sold out or not in stock, this place completely had all the things I needed and even ones I hadn’t even though about. I bought like 9 – 10 items and my purchase was under $ 100!!!
They have a huge selection. The staff is super friendly and they also have a ton of party supplies. This place is a gem and I will be back again and again and again!!!
I highly recommend this place!

Super friendly and helpful staff. I’ve never seen a halloween store so stocked and organized the day before Halloween. Found everything I needed last minute for my costume without breaking the bank!

Amazing! Everyone was so helpful! I got help from about 4 different people and was able to get my Ursula costume done in just the right amount of time!

I’ve bought my Halloween costumes, as well as other party supplies, at this place for the past few years. They have an outstanding selection of fun items to kick up any party, music festival, or night out that you’d ever need. From a wide selection of character wigs, to makeup, to LED light toys, I always fun something new here.
The employees are really helpful and always ready with a suggestion. For example, my husband and I usually wear coordinating costumes for Halloween. I’d found a rainbow costume on my own and my husband was at a loss to come up with something that would complement it. The staff suggested a sun costume. My husband paired it with yellow jeans, a yellow t-​shirt, sweatbands on his head and arms (purchased in-​store), and black sunglasses. It was a hit, more so than my costume, and he got stopped on the street to take pictures with people. He’s worn it since for Halloween parties and it’s always a winner with adults and kids alike. I don’t know what we would have done if the folks at Total Party hadn’t helped us out.
I hope this place stays in the area when the Ballston Mall is renovated, or it’d be a great loss to the community.
I can’t recommend this place enough! You have to see it to believe it.

This is a great store. I always find what I’m looking and often end up buying more details to the costume. Not sure why it only has 2 stars? I’ve bought several costumes here and sent my godmother for a costume. She came out with what she was looking for and more. Everyone is helpful and they know their merchandise and industry.

Really confused about the 2-​star rating on this store. I went in looking for my Halloween costume and found it!!! After countless costume stores and dumb ideas, this place completely inspired my costume. I bought all of my pieces separately and including accessories, makeup and tights, wig, etc, my entire purchase was under $ 100!!!
They have a huge selection. The staff is super friendly and they also have a ton of party supplies. This place is a gem and I will be back again and again and again!!!
Wearables are non-​returnable but it’s like that at most stores so whatever. I highly recommend this place!

Actually terrible. Proprietor thinks that because the store is in a ‘ghetto’ mall that he can, or should, treat prospective customers like trash. Employees are brusque and rude. The only things that I’ve ever seen on sale are Superbowl napkins and stuff after the Superbowl. I have no idea how this store stays in business.

great and convenient place to get costumes for sure but the salesman or manager was a hot mess.
i was there this afternoon and saw something that i like. i asked if how much it was. asked me to wait, fine, i was not in a hurry. he rang 3 transactions.
then, same question, he told me, not for sale wait until after valentine’s day. i didn’t say, i was going to buy it, i only asked how much the costume was.
he told me, he does not sell display items, well, why display it if your not selling it?
aren’t you supposed to be a costume store selling costumes including the one on display or are you just too lazy to check the prize or take the dang costume off the mannequin?
unless the salesman want that jacket for himself after the sale prize and the discount he gets being employed there.
i was nice to him and did not rant at his bad bad attitude. i would look lower than him if i stoop at that moment.
It was my second disappointing experience here. last one was, when I asked if the 2014 balloon was discounted.
care to know what was the response? Of course it was NO, but the was it was said.

We bought our Halloween costumes from here this year and it was exactly what I expected of a Halloween store — overpriced, disorganized, and very rude service. We had to wait in a long line just to go into the store. They also have a 30-​minute time limit for shoppers. There are no returns on their costumes (I guess that part makes sense). The accessories also were of terrible quality. The people manning the fitting rooms were really rude.
Next year, we’ll create our own costumes. It’s more unique, more cost-​efficient, and less of a hassle. We’ll also do it ahead of time so we can order any extra accessories online and not have to shop at Total Party or another store like it. What a rip-​off!

Actually not terrible. I was preparing for the worst after some of these reviews, and when I showed up and there was a line. Ugh…
But, the line outside as well as the checkout line moved smoothly, the place was well laid out, etc. I didn’t see too many employees around but I finally found one that was able to tell me that the colored hair spray was behind the counter so I didn’t spend too much extra time in the store. It is annoying you have to leave your big bags outside, but I just grabbed my phone and wallet and there was a security guard there watching.
Anyway, don’t let these negative reviews scare you away considering this is the only metro accessible halloween/​party store!

Came here to get some balloons and supplies for a birthday party. Service was great and also left with a halloween costume! They have a lot of selection and was very pleased with the helpful staff. So glad to have a party store in the mall.

TAKE YOUR BUSINESS SOMEWHERE ELSE! ANYWHERE ELSE.
Horrible. Owner is about as rigid as one can get. Which makes for bizarre business management and an extremely poor customer service experience.
The store has signs all over it warning you not to touch things without help (grownups here…). As I walked under the chains barring entry into their costume aisles, I was followed to make sure I wasn’t… looking at their merchandise? Deciding to possibly make a purchase?
If you do find something to try on, you are not allowed to bring in more than 2 costumes into the fitting room. Total. (The fitting rooms, 2 tiny ones, are also chained off.)
* Why is that, I asked the owner?
* Because we’ve had bad experiences.
* How so?
* People don’t put them back into their packages.
* Ok. I’ll help your sales person fold them. I can’t buy something unless I try it on and how do I know which one of 2 will fit me?
* No. Only 2, maybe 3.
* But I found 5 that I want to try on. I bought my costume here last year and your sales person let me try on several before buying.
* Did you like what you bought? (as he asks, I am wondering: What does this have to do with the current situation?)
* Well, I will only let you try them all on IF YOU PROMISE TO BUY ONE OF THEM.
* You want me to commit to spending money in your store regardless of whether or not something fits me?
* This is our policy. People try things on and then don’t buy them.
Yes, as the ones spending the money, that is our choice.
And, as a customer, it is my policy not to get dicked around by ridiculous and unheard of demands.
I truly hope that he goes out of business. And, as someone who works in small and local business development, and who has felt the pain of unemployment, I certainly don’t say this lightly. He does not deserve the luxury of running a business, or getting yours. Let someone else have the opportunity. Go somewhere else.

Came here to buy supplies for a baby shower. The staff was went out of their way to help me. Helped me pick out gift bags, blew up different latex balloons so I could see the colors to make the right combination, etc. It’s a small store that’s packed with stuff (didn’t have a lot of baby shower themed items in stock but I was only looking for mostly generic items).

This store is located in Northwest, not Northeast. I have shopped here before and I enjoyed it, but the party seems to be over now. I bought a few frivolous trinkets and tchotchkes. The store was not busy. Apparently, I don’t need to buy any costumes here because I have my own cloak of invisibility. I was left cooling my heels for quite some time. The final straw was when the man behind the counter asked what my middle initial was after I handed over my plastic. Pop Quiz? Hmm… How inappropriate. I am disinclined to shop here again.