Dana Moos, pictured right with her daughter Cassandra, has operated Party Central in Sidney for almost 25 years and she's ready to take life a bit easier.
Dana Moos turned 65 on Thursday, Aug. 8 and she's ready to take life a bit easier. She started working at Party Central in 2000 when it was located in the basement of Yellowstone Merc. On Feb. 5, 2006 she moved the business to its current location on Main Street in Sidney and has been serving up good times ever since. In 2009, The Popcorn Factory was purchased from Dale and Barb Dombrosky and Dana, along with a few other popcorn chefs, filled the store with the tantalizing smells of a huge variety of the special treat. After a few years, Dana's husband, Eldon, took over being head popcorn cook as his evening and weekend hobby.
Party Central has always been the place to find what you need to celebrate the fun times in your life whether it be the perfect gift, white elephant gags, party balloons and sculptures of all kinds, Yankee candles, novelties, party decorations, quality tableware or tuxedos for weddings and proms.
Dana has thoroughly enjoyed watching as generations of customers have walked through her doors. Her son graduated in 2005 and now she is seeing his classmates bring in their sons to get fitted for tuxedos. As they've been breaking the news to their dedicated customers, some of them have been brought to tears thinking about how they won't be able to celebrate their child's next milestone with Party Central.
She has made tons of friends over the years and has helped more than one person pull a great prank or surprise. "It's been really fun," Dana said with a big smile. They've helped with many gender reveal parties, working with balloons, chalk cannons or party poppers. Another large party was a surprise 40th wedding anniversary where fake names were put on all of the accounts so that no one in the community could find out about the celebration. They even helped with large Kid's Day Out events in Williston setting up giant balloon displays of Dora, Spongebob, Scoobey Doo and a few others.
Eldon became her partner in crime during the oil boom. Dana said that Eldon had never had a hobby except his music until he started at the store and he truly enjoyed helping out. He was employed at Job Service when he passed away Nov. 20, 2021. In 2012, their daughter Cassandra moved back to Sidney, planning to just spend the summer while she waited on a teaching job. Fortunately, she was hired by the Savage School District to start an art program that winter and has been helping her mom on weekends ever since. She uses her creative talents to do window displays, does tuxedo fittings and manages the website. A year ago, she also took over the bookkeeping and popcorn making.
Party Central has also provided numerous school-to-work kids with great learning opportunities. Dana is proud of the kids who worked at the store and who they are today. Although there were also several short-timers, she mentioned a few that were very special. Laci Whitford-Anvik is now a bank officer in Kalispell; Amanda Van Every-Evanson is with a bank in Columbus; Tia Lewis is a teacher in Sidney; Morgan Folstad-Larson is a licensed massage therapist; Kyle Topp is in vet school, and Shelby Morlock, their right-hand lady during Eldon's passing, is now in management in Tioga.
The Sidney Chamber of Commerce always had a friend in Party Central and Main Street Popcorn Factory. Dana helped with all the downtown activities for many, many years and enjoyed working on events for the community. Retirement will find Dana looking to get back involved with the community. She wants to rejoin her friends in the Lions Club and help out wherever she can. "I want to get back involved," she stated. "The community has served me well. I'm not moving away!"
For Dana, retirement will not be total as she is keeping the balloon and tuxedo parts of Party Central. While The Popcorn Factory and building are up for sale, customers can take advantage of the huge Retirement/Going Out of Business Sale going on right now! Savings on all party supplies are anywhere from 25-50% off, with extra savings on bulk purchases. The store is open until further notice but don't wait too long to pop in in!
Party Central and Main Street Popcorn Factory are located at 105 E. Main, Sidney. Stop by, follow them on Facebook for up-to-date deals, or call 406-433-4386.
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