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Within a few years Wally's homegrown shop outgrew his parents' basement. His craftsman-father constructed a building in town that would serve the growing enterprise. It was an enterprise that now included his young bride, Irene (whom he'd met through his church's youth group), and a burgeoning family. By 1954 Wally and Irene opened their first Christmas store. What had begun as a sign company found a niche as a supplier of commercial holiday decorations and fixtures for businesses and municipalities.

"My folks never let the business take their eyes off the Lord," son Randy Bronner recalls. "Their love of God was always first in their lives."

It was a priority that God would honor. By 1966 Bronner's Display and Sign Advertising needed more space. The clientele had grown to include more than wholesale customers. A vacant bank in Frankenmuth became the perfect location for the Bronner's Tannenbaum Shop, where Christmas gifts and décor were available year-round. Five years later the building that once housed Wally's aunt's grocery store was converted into Bronner's Bavarian Corner. As customers came from every state in the union and overseas, business continued to boom. By 1977 the three stores were consolidated into one and relocated to its current location at 25 Christmas Lane. Since that time, the store has gone through three additional expansions.

At the age of 75, Wally Bronner has not lost his passion. Even though he turned over the day-to-day management of the operation to his son Wayne and daughters Carla and Maria and their spouses a few years ago, Wally continues to be involved. He shows up for work every day wearing his bright red blazer and green tie.

In his role as chairman of the board, the store's founder enjoys the freedom to be a goodwill ambassador visiting with shoppers, international guests, and the media. With his enthusiastic and hopeful personality, Wally lives up to his reputation as Michigan's Mr. Christmas. He has met dignitaries and celebrities from around the world, including First Lady Laura Bush, General Norman Schwarzkopf, former President Bill Clinton, and cbs newsman Dan Rather.

"I feel very blessed," Wally admits. "I don't think I've really ever worked. The Lord allowed me to pursue a hobby and get paid for it. It's a privilege to serve Him in the process. I like to tell people that wherever there's a Christian there's a missionary, and wherever there's a missionary there's a mission field. I see my business as a mission field."

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