Of particular interest to the PFTP staff is the 2002 addition/renovation which extended the Emporium into what was formerly called Center Street where the Flower, Card, and Clock Shops formerly resided in days gone by. The new architecture, shown below, is quite different from the rest of Main Street and the windows on display are stunning. The supporting back story (yes, there's always a back story) goes something like this. Our shop's proprietor, wanting to expand his enterprise, wanted to showcase his travels abroad and the modern style in Europe, at the turn of the 20th century, was Edwardian as opposed to the prevailing Victorian style. The 'Imagineering Field Guide to the Magic Kingdom' also points out the change in interior design which, we must admit, is hard to see when you're packed inside like a proverbial sardine. That said, we have loitered during times other than peak traffic times and the contrast is quite noticeable.
The addition's windows focus more on the goods sold than Disney luminaries; "Offering the Latest and Greatest" decries the glass and, indeed, the latest and greatest souvenirs can be yours within. Be sure, however, to look closely at the windows to the right of the expansion, in today's first photo from the park, and to the windows on the left of the expansion in the second photograph. I'm especially fond of chimney sweeps.
These photographs were taken by the author in November, 2007.
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2 comments:
Nice article. I wish I had spent more time there before the addition!
Thanks, George; I spent quite a bit of time looking for photographs of (West) Center Street and the best source was located at 'Widen Your World' (http://www.omniluxe.net/wyw/msusa.htm).
It looks like the detail here was exquisite.
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