WALLY BRONNER (1927-2008)
Founded Christmas Wonderland in Frankenmuth, Michigan
Wally Bronner, 81, died April 1st. He was a rags to riches story. Starting with a sign-painting business in his parents' basement, he built a Christmas empire that today takes up a building the size of five football fields.
Throughout it all, he kept his focus on the Nativity and Christmas.
He was born in Frankenmuth March 9, 1927 and started the sign painting business in 1943 and expanded into decorating parade floats, fair booths and store windows. In 1951 he met with merchants from Clare, Mi, who were looking for Christmas lamppost decorations and soon, other cities were clamoring for his creations.
He married Irene Pretz in 1951, and, in 1954, opened their first store in downtown Frankenmuth and added two others in 1966 and 1971. By the mid 70s, the three stores were so congested during the fall weekends that he had to hire doormen to control the crowds.
In 1977, he moved the three stores to a 45 acre spread on the southside of town and doubled the size in 1991 and had another big addition in 2002.
Business is good. Unfortunately, I have never had the opportunity to visit the place.
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