The land of enchantment
MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
Enchanted Land, at 2900 S. 20th St. in South Philadelphia, has its roots at the old Gaudio’s Garden and Craft Centers.
Gaudio’s was a mainstay in the Northeast and other Philadelphia-area locations from 1953–89. Another Gaudio family store, G Boys Garden and Christmas Center, operated in Marlton, New Jersey until 2012.
The stores featured elaborate Christmas decorations.
Today, Ralph Gaudio operates Enchanted Land, which is open daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Enchanted Land is located at Kindy’s Christmas Factory Outlet, across from the Penrose Diner. It features reindeer, snowmen and carolers among more than 125 pieces of animation, along with Christmas and winter scenes.
Santa Claus is on hand, and children can get their face painted. ••
MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas: Above, Ralph Gaudio walks through Enchanted Land, a space in South Philadelphia where he has created Christmas scenes with lights, moving dolls and decorations. MARIA S. YOUNG / TIMES PHOTO