Party City buys 18 franchised stores across four states from Sam Rubenstein for $15 million as the 750-store chain continues a long-term strategy to return franchised locations to company ownership, Party City VP Deborah Belevan tells us. “As franchised stores become available we will continue to buy them,” says Belevan. The 18 stores had combined sales of $34 million. Party City, which has 184 franchised stores spread among more than 30 franchisees, gets ownership of stores in Alabama (8), Louisiana (8), Florida (1) and Mississippi (1). In buying out Rubenstein, Party City now owns all locations in Louisiana (12) and Alabama (9). Meanwhile, Party City is continuing with its test sales of toys through about 20 stores with no immediate plans for expansion, says Belevan.