Jordan's Furniture announced that its animated Enchanted Village will open its 2011 season at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon on Friday, November 11th to the public for free. The old-fashioned, Victorian-era display went from Jordan Marsh to its new home of Jordan’s Furniture in 2009.
The public will see the facades, animated figurines, and yuletide scenes that are remembered from the many years at Jordan Marsh in Downtown Crossing. However, the display has been Jordan-ized with a lot of new surprises…and some old ones including the original Jordan Marsh blueberry muffins!
“I am thrilled to be able to offer a wonderful New England tradition and offer families a great way to ring in the season. Last year, we had over 150,000 guests enjoy this fabulous area tradition. It’s a great way to ring in the holiday season. We hope that people will again enjoy this entertaining family attraction, complete with Santa Clause, a reindeer game, a holiday song laser light show, and Polar Express 4D The Ride at MOM. It’s all under one roof in our Avon store starting this Friday, November 11th.”
Eliot Tatelman, President and CEO of Jordan’s Furniture, bought the Enchanted Village at auction in 2009. The display was on hiatus for close to three years, prior to being seen at the Hynes Convention Center and City Hall Plaza, with the first “home” at Jordan Marsh.
Originally crafted in the 1930’s by Bavarian toymakers, Tatelman says he is happy to be able to provide a home for the Victorian-era display. “It’s a natural fit. To go from Jordan Marsh to Jordan’s Furniture makes sense. This landmark display triggers great memories for people my age and will expose the younger generation to a unique New England attraction.”
The Enchanted Village at Jordan’s Furniture is what remains of a long-standing Boston tradition. Jordan Marsh commissioned a Bavarian toymaker to create the Village in order to attract customers to its Downtown Crossing store, where it remained until the mid-1970s. According to the local publications, annual attendance of the Village once hovered above 200,000. In 1972, the Enchanted Village closed. It reopened again for a short time in 1990. In 1998, Mayor Thomas Menino and the City of Boston took charge of the magical Village. By 2006, however, the village was in disrepair. Many mechanical figurines and sets were lost. It was time to find a new home. In June 2009, Stanley J. Paine Auctioneers facilitated the sale of Boston’s Enchanted Village to the highest bidder. Jordan’s Furniture CEO Eliot Tatelman bought the 8,000-square-foot display in order to preserve tradition. “This is a New England thing,” Eliot says of the Village. “How could I not keep it going?”.
In addition to the historic Enchanted Village, revelers can also enjoy Polar Express 4D The Ride and LITE (the Laser Imagination Theater Experience), both at the MOM Theater in the Avon store. Polar Express 4D The Ride is a multi-media 20-minute experience that will tickle all of the senses. The attraction includes 3D images of the Hollywood blockbuster film plus the aromas of wonderful holiday aromas, weather effects, and complete surround sound. LITE, the Laser Imagination Theater Experience is an exciting laser and music show including all of the traditional holiday songs and characters. Great for the whole family. And don’t forget Santa Clause! The big man in red will be on-site during all operational hours for photos with children and families.
The Enchanted Village at Jordan’s Furniture in Avon will be open to the public free of charge from November 11th through January 1st, during regular store hours. Tickets to Polar Express 4D The Ride ($6) and to LITE ($3) are available on-site at the MOM Theater. For hours and directions, log onto jordans.com.