Our Story

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A lot of people ask where the “A&R” comes from because the company is owned and operated by us, Michael and Justine. As most couples do, we have goals and within the last year we were thinking of ways to make those goals a reality. 

Michael has many talents. One of them...the ability to make mouth watering mozzarella. Pre-Global Pandemic/Covid-19, I suggested hosting parties where he makes the mozzarella fresh in front of the guests because...who wouldn’t love that?! I immediately started building social media platforms and promoting this idea. 

A couple of weeks after my ground breaking idea, 2020 kicked in full force, the world shut down and we were forced to quarantine. I used my extra time to keep this idea fresh and in people’s news feeds. I did raffles, told Michael to make batches of his mozzarella and I posted videos of him dancing while he made it.

A few months later Michael said he would do the balloons for his nieces 1st birthday party. When he said he was going to “do the balloons”, I pictured a few loose balloons tied around the tables and chairs but I should have known better. Michael always has to be “the best” so nothing is simple with him. 

I was helping his sisters set up the party in the yard when I heard him shouting for me to open the door. He came walking outside with an 8ft tall balloon column! I wish I knew sooner that he could do this, balloons and homemade mozz?! I of course posted this newly discovered skill on the business’ social media pages and within minutes we had people inquiring. 

For weeks to follow, I would come home from work to balloon arches, columns and garland all over our apartment because...well, practice makes perfect.

So what do we name our little party business? 

Anthony and Rita, Michael’s parents, bought a balloon store in Downtown Brooklyn when their kids were young called J&R Balloons (later named A&R Balloons). So basically - Michael was cutting ribbon since birth. Rita sadly passed away when Michael was only eight years old; Anthony continued to raise their six children. He never dated another woman after Rita and was still so in love with her 22 years after her passing. Anthony left this world to be with Rita again in July 2019 and our business was named in their memory.

A&R has thrown many challenges our way but it’s ours and we did it together. If you ask Michael, he’ll tell you that I “pimp him out” but I call it good advertising for a very talented man! 

Please skim through our page to see the different services we offer and keep us in mind for your next event (and your next baby because we also have stork rentals - HA)! Thank you all for supporting our small business and helping us reach our life goals!

Shout-out to our family and friends for always supporting us and helping us in any way they can. Special shout-out to my sister Catrina who always helps us prep overwhelming amounts of balloon orders - you’re a star!

Love always,

Mikey Mozz and Behind the Scenes Justine