The Best Decorations
Although Halloween is the current reason for the season, our decorations didn't start out that way. The Christmas decorations at Erv's are truly impressive (There are even YouTube Videos). But it wasn't always like it is now. It all started with red bows. My mom and dad bought Erv's in November of 1979. In 1980, as the holidays rolled around, my mom decided that red bows were what we needed. She ordered several hundred professionally made bows that we placed all around the restaurant on Thanksgiving Day while we were closed.
Little by little, it started to grow with a few touches here and a few touches there, and then my parents discovered the Merchandise Mart in Chicago. For those who may not know, the Merchandise Mart is the wholesaler to places like Milager's, Steins, and now, Erv's Mug; and my parents' lives and mine were changed forever. Inspired further by the Christmas decorations at Butch McGuire's (also in Chicago), my dad installed spinning ceiling motors on the ceiling and bolted through the roof rafters to support the displays he envisioned in his sugar plum head. It was 1987, and I had just finished my law school exams. I was busy making displays in my parents' home to be hung from these new motors. We created several Christmas-inspired scenes, most of which have been retired and replaced. However, one scene remains unchanged: a giant sled with stuffed animals arranged to make it look like they're flying down a hill of snow.
As we continued down the rabbit hole of the merchandise mart, the displays expanded, and the decorations began to encompass the different holidays throughout the seasons. We decorate for Valentine's, Mardi Gras, St. Patrick's, Easter, Summer, Halloween, and, of course, Christmas. While the staff helps accomplish all of the seasonal decorations, we've turned Christmas decorating into a day-long staff event. Everybody brings a dish to pass, we spend the day decking the Halls, and the evenings celebrating the beginning of the holiday season. After the 2010 addition to the building, we started incorporating themes throughout the rooms. You'll notice gold and silver decking out the bar, traditional Christmas decorations in the main dining room, and a more whimsical atmosphere in the back dining room. Christmas is by far the largest, followed closely by Halloween.
You can see our Halloween decorations currently on display through November 1st. My mom chose a theme of orange and black feathers with wild feather masks to start. This theme has been expanded over the years to encompass all things Halloween that are family-friendly with just a little bit of fright. Right after the Halloween decorations come down, Christmas quickly appears from mid-November through early January. We hope you join us with your family and friends.