European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - November 18, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse                                C h r i m t m n i d r n go to Rothenburg to the real thing by Chuck Roberts staff writer it not Only offers the world s largest selection of Christmas ornaments and decorations but it s located in German s Best preserved walled City Rothenburg of Der Tauber. A the Wohlfahrt offers More than 70,000 different traditional decorations ranging from nutcrackers smokers tyrolean nativity scenes bavarian table Linen Steiff stuffed animals Black Forest cuckoo clocks and a list that would probably fill the contents of the sunday edition of the new York times if everything were included. But it s not just the selection of Quality handmade crafts that makes a visit to a the Wohlfahrt memorable. The display of its Ordinary items and its special displays will be sure to Charm the children and give reluctant husbands plenty to do and see. Or you can do like Jae Lynne coff and Holly. Robinson and leave the husband behind with the kids and strike but on your own. It s awesome. It s like a wonderland Robinson said of the a the Wohlfahrt store just after arriving in Rothenburg from her Home at Robinson Barracks in Stuttgart Germany. Robinson said her kids love the Many attractions such As the world s largest Nutcracker 11 feet 8 inches standing guard outside the store s Entrance an 18-foot rotating Pyramid a Christmas tree with 80,000 lights and two animated displays of Steiff toy animals. Coff said she likes the endless selection of intricate tree ornaments with prices ranging from 2 Marks about $1.20 to 20 Marks about $12. Although wooden pyramids can be found at Small Kathe Wohlfahrt shops at military exchanges Goff said the Quality is better at the source. Or As Robinson put it i wanted to come to the real  if shopping is not your bag let someone else do the sets Chuck Roberts is Chuck Hobart Jae Lynne coff and Holly Robinson thinks it s Worth the trip to Rothenburg from Stuttgart. Sas Cluck Gotowtt shopping and tour the fascinating City of Rothenburg. Climb the City Wall and and you can walk around much of the City for some great photo Ops of the half timbered houses. When you re in the City there s hardly a Street that in t attractive or possessing some interesting store museum or Church. But if you re Only going to see one museum make it the criminal museum with its creative array of torture devices and an authentic chastity Belt. A the Wohlfahrt and americans Are no strangers to one another. The idea for the year round Christmas concept began one Spring in 1964 when Wilhelm Wohlfahrt gave an army Friend a music Box usually sold Only at christmastime. The enthusiastic response he received prompted Wohlfahrt to begin Selling locally produced erzgebirge Christmas decorations at officers wives bazaars on weekends year round. Things went so Well that Wohlfahrt quit his Job at ism opened up a showroom in their Home and named the company after his wife. Americans were the no. 1 customers during the 70s and 80s, but now share the no. 2 spot with the japanese because of the shrinking military presence in Europe said store spokesman Cesar Bezold. Germans stuffed animals from Steiff Are popular gift items above. Kathe Wohlfahrt helps shoppers get in the mood with a Well lit Christmas  now the leading customers. Kathe Wohlfahrt makes it easy for americans to buy by automatically including the tax free exemption in the Cash Register. With the tax free buying Opportunity prices Are about the same As military exchanges Bezold said. There Are five Kathe Wohlfahrt stores to choose from in Rothenburg. The main two stores Are Das Weihnacht Dorf the Christmas Village and Der  located across the Street from one another on Herr Gasse. To find it go to the Mark Platz Market place and take the Street Between the water Fountain and enormous Rathaus City Hall. It s just a few Steps from there. The other three stores Are More specially Type shops. The Weihnacht Dorf is the rain store where you la find the Large Christmas tree Pyramid and animated displays. That s where Michael Stenger and his wife Pat had just experienced their first encounter with Kathe Wohlfahrt and were duly impressed. In the Back of the store upstairs you la find the Galley which offers damaged repaired items and excess items at reduced prices of 20 percent to 50 percent off. The Galley replaced the warehouse formerly located outside of town that has been closed Down. I be never seen anything like it before said Michael who is visiting a foreign Exchange student who had stayed at his Home in Hampden Maine. He particularly like the Pyramid and the animation display. His wife also was impressed. It s Beautiful. It s like a fairyland. It s All so Beautiful Pat said noting that the Quality was better than what she finds Back Home. Across the Street is the  the original Kathe Wohlfahrt store where you la find More nutcrackers smokers from Eastern Germany pyramids Linen and of course More tree decorations. At the Rose Pavilion just off the Mark Platz on obese , the emphasis is on More luxurious gifts such As Meissen porcelain handbags candles and Potpourri. A few doors Down is Das Bay Rische desc Henkhaus the bavarian gift House which of fers traditional clothing such As lederhosen leather pants Woollen jackets sweaters tyrolean ceramics and Linen. The newest shop Das Ehrenhaus the clock House located across from so Jacob s Church offers a Large selection of Grandfather clocks cuckoo clocks Crystal ornaments chandeliers a Hummel studio and artwork from Rothenburg. Store hours Are mondays through fridays from 8 . To 6 30 . Saturdays from 8 . To 2 . First saturday of each month from 8 . To 4 . Generally open on sundays from the end of april to the first sunday of november and during Advent from 10a.m. To 6 . For More information Call 09861 -40941. November 18, 1993 stripes Magazine 11