Blog Post

World's Largest Christmas Store: world record in Frankenmuth, Michigan

Sep 09, 2022

Frankenmuth, Michigan, United States--Founded by Wally Bronner, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (stylized Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland), a retail store in Frankenmuth, Michigan, is 7.35 acres (2.97 ha) in size and is visited annually by over two million people; its inventory exceeds 50,000 trims and gifts, including Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, and Christmas decorations; the store sets the world record for being the World's Largest Christmas Store, according to the WORLD RECORD ACADEMY.

"Bronner's Christmas Wonderland covers over 8,000 square meters of floor space. Customers are given maps to find their way around. That’s big even for American standards, where both mega-shed super-stores and spectacular Christmas decorations are all but routine," the Deutche Welle reports.

"Three- meter-tall Santa Clauses and a giant snowman guard the entrances. Hundreds of thousands of brightly colored lights shine inside and out, while Christmas music jingles away from opening to closing. The store runs up an average 1250-dollar (approx. 1160 euros) power bill - daily. The store is open almost every day of the year, including Christmas Day itself, December 25th."

"The founder (1927-2008) is known to have said in an interview, “The truth is, no decorations are needed at all at Christmas. What's really needed at Christmas is that we decorate our hearts. We get so busy with all of our preparations that we forget that this is such an important time of year to stop and take time to reflect on our lives, our faith, our world.“

"Many of us talk about traditions and the ways we celebrate the holidays with family and friends. Well, Christmas wouldn't be the same for generations of shoppers without a stop at one special place that rivals even the North Pole. It's a pilgrimage that millions of people make every year to the world's largest Christmas store," the American Express reports.

"Bronner's Christmas Wonderland (stylized Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland) is a retail store in Frankenmuth, Michigan.

"Designed with an Alpine architecture (see chalet) and operating year-round, the building is 7.35 acres (2.97 ha) in size with landscaped grounds covering 27 acres (11 ha).

"Outside the entrance are three 17-foot-tall (5.2 m) outdoor Santas and a 15-foot-tall (4.6 m) snowman. Inside, there are approximately 800 animated figurines at various locations throughout the store.

"Bronner's parking lot can accommodate up to 1,080 cars and 50 buses. Some 100,000 lights illuminate Bronner's one-half-mile-long (0.80 km) Christmas Lane in the evening. Michigan designated Bronner's as an "Embassy for Michigan Tourism" in 1976.Bronner's employs over 500 people during the holiday season (between October and Christmas)."

"Founded in 1945 by Wally Bronner, Bronner's Christmas Wonderland is visited annually by over two million people, with the weekend after Thanksgiving being the busiest of the year with over 50,000 visitors.

"Its inventory exceeds 50,000 trims and gifts, including Christmas ornaments, artificial Christmas trees, Christmas lights, Nativity scenes, Christmas decorations, collectibles, and similar goods.

"The store is open 361 days per year. In 2018, there were over 350 decorated Christmas trees inside and products from 70 countries in the 320,000 square foot building.

"Each year, approximately 600,000 glass ornaments, 530,000 feet (160,000 m) of garland, 150,000 postcards and 86,000 light sets (nearly 530 miles [850 km] of light cords) are sold. Bronner's has the exclusive right to sell Precious Moments Christmas-themed figurines. (wikipedia)

"Bronner, Bronner’s Christmas Wonderland is the world’s largest Christmas store, a year-round commercial attraction for all ages," the Atlas Obscura reports.

"A huge draw for the town of Frankenmuth, Michigan, Bronner’s welcomes at least two million visitors every year from throughout, mostly, the United States and Canada. In 1976, the state of Michigan designated Bronner’s an “Embassy for Michigan Tourism.”

"Wayne Bronner, president and CEO of Bronner's CHRISTmas Wonderland, lists 18 things you may not have known about the World's Largest Christmas Store," the michigan.org reports

1. More than 350 decorated Christmas trees are beautifully displayed in Bronner's salesroom.

2. Decorations and gifts from 70 nations can be found at Bronner's.

3. Bronner's carries over 150 styles of nutcrackers.

4. Bronner's artists personalize over 100,000 ornaments annually. One of Bronner's ornament artists has personally handpainted nearly ½-million ornaments during her 25 years at Bronner's. Approximately 50% of the glass ornaments sold are Bronner's own designs.

5. If all the light sets sold in one year at Bronner's were stretched out in a continuous line, they would span approximately 530 miles.

6. Movie star John "the Duke" Wayne ordered a Santa suit from Bronner's by telephone on December 15, 1976.

7. Sports figures who have visited Bronner's include former University of Michigan football coach Bo Schembechler, Detroit Tigers' owner Tom Monaghan (who arrived at Bronner's in his Domino's Pizza helicopter!), former Tiger pitcher Milt Wilcox, former Tiger catcher Lance Parrish, former Tiger outfielder Willie Horton, race car driver Al Unser, Jr., "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe, and Detroit Redwing Sergei Fedorov.

8. Celebrities who have visited Bronner's recently include former Michigan Governor John Engler and First Lady Michelle with triplet daughters; former Michigan Governor James Blanchard; Olympic Gold Medalist Dorothy Hamill; vocalists Little Jimmie Dickins, Jim Nabors, Pat Boone, Marie Osmond, Anita Bryant, Andy Williams, the Lennon Sisters, the Lettermen, Ted Nugent, the Ink Spots, Faith Hill, Twila Paris and sister Starla, and Ana Cani; television's Dave Coulier of "Full House"; First Lady Laura Bush; and actresses Polly Bergen and Cindy Williams.

9. Bronner's was the first recipient of the worldwide Golden Santa Claus Award in February, 1986, at the Nuremberg International Toy Fair in Germany. The annual award is presented for "creativity and new ideas in the Christmas business as well as for set-up and presentation of Christmas articles.

10. Bronner's electric bill averages $1,250.00 per day.

11. Beamer the Bronner Star was born in 1999, becoming Bronner's mascot.

12. Bronner's online store offers approximately 3,000 items for purchase.

13. The overall size of Bronner's building is 320,000 sq. ft. (approx. 7.35 acres or 5.5 football fields of space) with 96,000 sq. ft. (2.2 acres 1.7 football fields of space) devoted to the salesroom.

14. Approximately 100,000 outdoor Christmas lights illuminate Bronner's grounds every evening throughout the year.

15. Christmas Lane, Bronner's own thoroughfare, is 1/2-mile long.

16. Bronner's giant outdoor Santa towers 17 feet and the giant snowman is 15 feet tall.

17. The weekend after Thanksgiving is Bronner's busiest of the year with as many as 50,000 guests.

18. Over two million guests come to Bronner's annually.

"Bronner's Christmas Wonderland was a sight to behold! You're sure to find an occupation or hobby-specific ornament for literally everyone you know amongst the 50,000 items sprawling across 1 1/2 football fields," the Roadside America reports.

"If you plan on going to Bronner's around Christmas time, be sure to get there early in the day, because the crowds are huge later. You can make it through the entire place, but it's just hard to navigate and see everything. Also, if you are going to the Bavarian Inn or Zehnder's for dinner, it is wise to make reservations -- otherwise, plan on being in line for sometimes hours."

Testimonials from Trip Advisor

"As you enter you are greeted by hosts behind information desks that offer a map (it's SO large you NEED it). There are sections just for Christmas costumes, Christmas Kitchen/Bathroom, a section dedicated to nutcrackers, nativities, miniature villages, trees, wreaths, outdoor lights, stockings, etc. (all mind you - these each have their own SECTION). Ornaments are organized by occupations, hobbies, ethnicities, family members, dogs/cats/other animals, and a section of ornaments that will be personalized for FREE."

"They also have a "Santa's Workshop" display where you kids can see the elves at work, see the picture for "the elf of the month" and visit with Santa (Thanksgiving-Christmas and special events). During times Santa is not in-residence, they can pick up the special phone and get a greeting from Santa himself!"

"This is a very large store for all things Christmas. They have a snack counter here and clean restrooms. If you want a particular ornament, you are sure to find it here. Nice photo opportunities inside and out. Worth a visit."

"Bronners is Christmas heaven with everything you could ever imagine, and they have a top notch staff to go with it. The Christmas music puts you in a great mood, and the fact that you can get multiple ornaments/stockings personalized is an outstanding touch. Any fan of the Christmas season needs to make the pilgrimage here. Highly recommend driving around after dark to see all the Christmas lights outside, and enjoy the total experience."