Javanah Barnes, the owner of The Artist Collab, a creative event production company, opened the Balloon Bar on Saturday, April 5, joining the many businesses in suites at 1056 Sterling Avenue in Flossmoor. 

The Balloon Bar offers customers latex and mylar balloons, party supplies, rentals, installations, helium services and grab-and-go garlands which are pre-made balloon garlands. 

Barnes is a Homewood resident who earned an associate’s degree from Harold Washington College and her bachelor’s degree in visual and performing arts from Grambling State University. 

“I just go out and I set up at different art exhibits, mostly experiential art exhibits,” Barnes said. “I kind of got more into the balloon decorating and things like that, so my business just expanded into balloons.” 

Barnes grew up in Park Forest and Chicago and while at school her mother bought a house in Homewood, relocating there when Barnes graduated, she said. 

While at Grambling State Barnes was the president of the art club and would set up decorations for on campus events. 

“I really got into art in high school,” Barnes said. “I took an AP art class and I was like I’m not really good at school, but if I’m going to go to college it’s going to be something I’m good at.” 

After graduation, Barnes said she dived into painting and realized she wanted to do more related to events, which led her to work with the experiential exhibits. 

“A company called The Super Producers put me on their project for a museum that was opening up in the Water Tower called The Exhibit House of Chicago,” Barnes said.  

According to the official website, The Exhibit House is a look into individualism and self-expression through curated installations. 

Barnes said she assisted with the production of the exhibits and knew that event decorating was what she wanted to do. 

Since then, Barnes has done balloon decorations for various private events, corporate events, and more local installations like at the gym she attends, she said. 

“Party City went out of business and my mom said, ‘Where are we going to get our balloons?’ like helium balloons,” Barnes said. She wanted a store front “and then this place opened up and it was just perfect timing.” 

Barnes said her brother frequently took the train from Flossmoor Station for work, making her familiar with the community and shopping center. 

“I think that’s why this business is going to be really good here because the community is really nice,” Barnes said. “Everybody is just taking us in super kindly and just giving us great vibes.” 

While in high school and attending junior college, Barnes encountered teachers who impacted the way she saw art and instilled in her that it can be both work and a hobby, she said. 

For her, the busiest time of the year for her business is prom, graduation season and the recent local election campaigning events. She explained that she took numerous preorders before the store opened. 

Her most recent decoration was bee-themed for a school spelling bee in Chicago, and a Black History Month installation in a Walmart shipping center. 

The shop’s hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a.m to 6 p.m. and closed on Sundays and Mondays taking appointments only.

Services can be bought at the Balloon Bar’s website and in store.