A lot of people I know missed you while you were gone.
Set in a century-old warehouse, Arne’s Warehouse & Party Store still looks like an old warehouse more than it does a store.
After crossing a clunky metal turnstile, shoppers enter a bare-bones space with seemingly endless aisles of party supplies, artificial flowers, candy, ribbons, pet supplies, paper and plastic dinnerware, holiday items, pinatas, computer stationery, housewares, cotton candy makers, hot dog turners and other small appliances, costumes and helium tanks for rent.
“And this is where we keep our tiaras,” employee Jovita Torres noted inside the store’s wedding room.
Near the front door is a handmade sign: “Wow! The Day Has Finally Come!” in reference to the reopening of the Heights-area store two weeks ago. Arne’s had been closed 11 months after suffering severe damage from Hurricane Ike.
And all that time, every time we drove past it Tiffany would mournfully wonder when – or even if – Arne’s would be back. When we saw the sign announcing its return, she let out a whoop of joy. Welcome back, Arne’s.