Peek into the Christmas Workshop Producing New York’s Most Iconic Holiday Displays
Mount Vernon Based American Christmas Decks the Halls of the Nation’s Most Popular Holiday Displays, Including Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Saks Fifth Ave.
MOUNT VERNON, NY — You don’t have to go all the way to the North Pole to find a year-round Christmas workshop, as holiday decoration/illumination designer and producer American Christmas offered a behind-the-scenes tour of its Mount Vernon headquarters.
Since 1968, American Christmas has designed and produced holiday displays for some of the Big Apple’s most well-known tourist destinations: Saks Fifth Avenue, Rockefeller Center, Radio City Music Hall, Madison Square Garden, the Four Seasons Hotel, Harry Winston Jewelers, Coach, the NBA Store, the McGraw Hill Building at 1221 Sixth Ave, the UBS Building at 1290 6th Ave; the Solow Building at 9 West 57 Street, and many more.
American Christmas’ commercial holiday designs and installations can also be found in 36 cities and several countries, including as far away as Australia.
The firm and its 110,000 square foot headquarters make their home in Mount Vernon, just a 22-minute train ride from Midtown Manhattan. American Christmas CEO Dan Casterella and CEO Emeritus Fred Schwam were joined on the behind-the-scenes tour by Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas.
“Millions of people come to the New York City region during the holidays to take in the sights and admire the dazzling illuminations and decorations created, designed, produced and manufactured right here in Mount Vernon,” said Mayor Richard Thomas. “New York is a city of lights, and they always burn brightest during the holiday season. Mount Vernon is proud to be the home of the hard-working men and women who contribute so much to creating the holiday attractions that make Manhattan an even greater showpiece.”
American Christmas has 70 full-time year-round employees and 140 seasonal employees. It moved to Mount Vernon from the Bronx in 2010 with the help of the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Authority (IDA). In 2017, it was acquired by Austrian company MK Illumination, which allowed it to expand its business and create more jobs for “Santa’s elves” in design, accounting, production, operations, and sales.
“The Big Apple is a vast stage and landscape that all the artisans at American Christmas are delighted to dress up for the holidays. It gives us great pleasure and pride to be able to add even more beauty and sparkle to the City that Never Sleeps,” said Dan Casterella, Chief Executive Officer of American Christmas. “As we enter the home stretch of the season’s installations, it’s important to recognize that this work is done by a local company that proudly calls the neighborly City of Mount Vernon its home since 2010. We could not make New York City’s larger-than-life holiday in lights shows and decorations come to life without this spacious, affordable, and conveniently located home base. Like the Christmas Carols and televised holiday specials, we’ll be back and ready again for 2019.”
“It’s a tremendous feeling to walk through the city with family and friends and see the joy and admiration on the faces of the many people who come to see our displays,” said Fred Schwam, Chief Business Development Officer and CEO Emeritus of American Christmas. “All the hard work our 200 employees put in is worth it when we see the fruit of our labor brightening the holiday season for so many.”
The Mount Vernon IDA encourages businesses including American Christmas to invest in the city and create good jobs that benefit Mount Vernon residents and the entire region. Check out this video for a closer look at how American Christmas became the company holiday icons like Radio City Music Hall and Saks Fifth Avenue call when they need to deck the halls and wow the holiday crowds.
“Not only does American Christmas provide great jobs, but we are also lucky to have their amazing, world-class decorations on display right here in Mount Vernon, including at City Hall,” said Eileen Mildenberger, Executive Director of the Mount Vernon Industrial Development Authority. “The IDA looks forward to continuing to work together with great corporate citizens like American Christmas and providing the kind of service that attracts top talent across industries. This company is yet another example that Mount Vernon makes things and makes them happen.”
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