No trip to a theme park would be complete without a souvenir, and most
parks have a variety of locations where park souvenirs can be purchased
sometimes with specific themes for the sections of the park.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the 1976 season Great
Adventure relocated the entrance plaza from the head of Dream Street to
the center of the park. The new plaza, referred to as Avenue of the
Flags, was given a patriotic theme to
celebrate America's Bicentennial. As part of this new plaza new gift
shops were built flanking both sides of the pathway, the largest of
those being Declaration of Gifts, which would serve as Great Adventure's
primary merchandise location for souvenirs for guests entering and
exiting the park. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The colonial themed
L-shaped building featured several rooms each with shelves of Great Adventure
souvenirs and collectibles. The store featured some of the most delicate
and expensive items in the park including glassware and ceramics leaving the plastic toys
and novelties to the smaller stores. The decor was typical
colonial-style which was commonly found in homes of the 1970s. The
walls featured dark wood paneling with yellow and olive green accents.
The light fixtures were brass with white milk glass hurricane domes and
the glass windows included stained panels to make the shop fit the early
Americana theme. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The location of the
shop right at the hub of the park near the Fountain made it the last stop
for many guests as they got ready to leave the park for the day. For
many kids, this was where they would stop to try and find a gift for
their mom.
Merchandise offerings varied from season to season with the shop's main
window serving as a display for the latest merchandise to the passing
guests. Collections of souvenirs included porcelain dolls,
drinking mugs, and carousel horses. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shop Names Through The Years
1976-1994
Declaration of Gifts
1995-1998
Confetti
1999
Town Square Toons
2000-2008
Flags
2009-Present
M-Porium |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Declaration of Gifts building
was designed with several facades, making it appear to be several small
buildings clustered together. The building was just a small structure
right on the corner of Dream Street and Main Street. In the 1980s the
shop was expanded with the addition of the Village Clothiers shop
adjoining the Declaration of Gifts. In later years it
would become part of the expanded Looney Tunes Shoppe that exists today. |
|
|
|
In 1993, the dark wood-clad
colonial theme was stripped as the shop was totally remodeled. The
store's interior was painted colonial white, recarpeted, and adorned
with cherry wood and glass display cases. Silk flower arrangements
along with a floral scent dispenser and a new Bose sound system playing
classical music provided for an upscale shopping adventure. The
updated interior featured refinished arches separating the space into
rooms each featuring different themed merchandise. |
|
|
|
|
|
For the 1994 season the shops along Main Street were expanded in a big
way. A new Looney Tunes Shoppe was
built near the Declaration of Gifts and would be connected to it several
years later creating one huge
shopping area which would stretch from the Front Gate to the Fountain.
The shop was renamed Confetti in 1995 as part of the new lineup of
merchandise on Main Street and the exterior of the building was given
thematic enhancements to go with the improved entrance plaza area. In
1999, the building was renamed again, becoming Town Square Toons and
then again in 2000 as Flags. Through all these different
variations the shop continued to offer Great Adventure merchandise and
collectibles. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
For the 2009 season
the shop was given a major overhaul. The M&M Mars company began to
become a prominent sponsor of Six Flags and the relationship was taken
to the next level with the introduction of the M-Porium.
The
biggest change was moving the shop's entrance to what had been the huge
display window facing the Fountain. New automatic sliding glass doors
were installed, creating a single entry. The two original sets of doors
were closed off, with the windows being covered with M&M decals and
blocked off with benches. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The new shop would
feature everything M&M's from candy to toys to plush. As part of this
makeover the colonial theming was totally stripped and the interior was painted
in bright candy colors. New modern fixtures were added and the shop
became a real showcase for M&M products.
The colorful M-Porium has become
a favorite shop for many park guests with the popular candies and
characters taking center stage. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|