Macy's Studios (also known as the Macy's Parade Studio, or simply Macy's Studio) is a production facility located in Moonachie, New Jersey. The three-story building is located at 140 State Street and is home to the many floats, balloons, costumes and set pieces from the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, many of which are designed and built in-house by a team of dozens of talented artists, welders, carpenters, balloonatics and more.
History[]
The original lofted concrete building at 15th Street and Willow Avenue was constructed at the turn of the 19th century, and was home to a manufacturer of elevator components during its earliest years. According to the 1918 Industrial Directory of New Jersey, the Elevator Supplies Company employed 600 people, making it one of the larger employers in the city before and during the First World War. By 1932, the national economy was experiencing its historic decline, and the workforce of the Hoboken firm (which also controlled a large Canadian elevator equipment company) dropped to 350. Newspaper reports during the Great Depression describe an unsuccessful attempt by the company’s stockholders to have a receiver appointed to take over Elevator Supplies, which later sold the building.
Sperry Products, Inc., manufacturers of electrical and hydraulic equipment, was the building’s next occupant. Until 1948, the Hoboken building was the headquarters and manufacturing center for a range of non-destructive testing equipment, including the Sperry Detector Car, which was used to test rail track for most of the railroads in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Although the Hoboken firm and Sperry Gyroscope had the same founder — Dr. Elmer A. Sperry — there was no corporate relationship between them. Sperry Products, Inc. relocated to Danbury, Connecticut in 1948.
The American Sweets Company - best known for its manufacture of Tootsie Rolls - moved into the building after Sperry Products departed, and continued through the early 1960s. Portions of the old concrete building were used to store cocoa, and other sections held paneled offices and candy-making machines.
In 1968, Macy's Studio moved from a smaller warehouse in North Bergen, New Jersey, to Hoboken. The building was remarkably well-suited to the unusual needs of the Macy's artistic and technical crew. With 44-foot-tall ceilings, 16,000 square feet of ground-level space, reinforced concrete walls, an overhead crane to lift elements, and beautiful light, the space was ideal for all aspects of float and balloon design and nearly all aspects of fabrication.
After a 40-year-plus occupancy, the Studio team announced in 2010 that they would be moving to a new and improved building in Moonachie, New Jersey. The former Hoboken Studio was later demolished in June 2013.
The current Macy's Studio, now located at 140 State Street in Moonachie, New Jersey, is a 72,000-square foot warehouse that was built specifically for the Macy's Parade crew and staff. The building, like its predecessor, has a room with 44-foot tall ceilings where the Parade's signature inflatable icons can be tested and created. The building also came equipped with a five-tonne overhead crane, in addition to three other smaller hoists. The current Studio also has two spray booths located on opposite sides of the building's production facility.
The three-story building houses the production facility on the bottom floor (including the entrance, Balloon Studio, Design Studio, production area, etc.), executive offices, a conference room, and the archives on the second floor, and Macy's Costume Operations on the third floor.
Current Studio Staff[]
Full Time[]
- Gerard Angelella - Production Shop Manager (2015-present)
- Jason Baroody - Art Specialist (2022-present)
- Bill Barton
- Sabina Suarez Basanta - Designer (2023-present)
- Emily Black - Senior Manager, Engineering (2021-present)
- Rudy Botelho - Sculptor (2019-Present)
- Christian Bracco - Charge Scenic Painter (2005-present)
- Justin Briggs - Sculptor (2023-present)
- Cameron Carnivale - Painter/Fabricator (2017-present)
- Julian Chelo - Concept Artist (2024-present)
- John Cheney - Carpenter/Welder (1975-present)
- William Cooney (2022-present)
- Alyssa Devers - Scenic Painter (2019-present)
- Lenny Drenski - Director of Production (2006-present)
- Brian Drew - Specialist, Balloon Tech Design (2013-present)
- Simon Fisher - Studio Design Specialist (2022-present)
- Matt Guarino - Lead Welder and Fabricator (2019-present)
- Matthew Hoffer - Automation SFX Technician (2023-present)
- Josephine Hong - Design Engineer (2022-present)
- Devon Holland - Welder (2023-present)
- Alexander Kanderis - Balloon Technician (2020-present)
- Paulo Krasulja - Warehouse Manager (2023-present)
- Kimberly Montgomery - Costume Director (2000-present)
- Tina Pfefferkorn - Assistant Manager, Balloon Studio (2015-present)
- PJ Portera - Concept Artist (2024-present)
- Noelle Rasco - Balloon Technician (2015-present)
- Thomas Schnakenberg - Electrician
- Cory Stallworth - Carpenter
- Gregory Thompson - Technical Designer/Draftsman (2017-present)
- Cory Watson - Welder (1990-present)
Seasonal[]
- Robin Feinsot - Event Coordinator/Production Assistant (2003-present)
- Patricia Levinson - Costume Department
- Elizabeth Maroshick - Costume Coordinator/Production Assistant (2023-present)
- Michael Patierno - Costume Coordinator (2015-2016, 2018, 2020-present)
- Amanda Renzi - Production Coordinator (2024-present)
Former Studio Staff[]
- Joey Ammons - Lead Designer (2017-2022)
- Marty Anderson
- Luis Aportela
- Jim Artle - Balloon Technician (1984-2013; died 2014)
- Pat Bases - Sculptor (1979-1984)
- Manfred Bass - Head Designer/Senior Director (1960-2000; died 2017)
- Claire Beck - Charge Scenic Painter (2018-2020)
- Stephen Bell - Sculptor (left in 2005)
- Rolf Beyer
- Sterling Brown - Mold Maker
- Ronaldo Canas
- Frank Cangialosi
- Mike Capuano
- Björn Carlsson - Sculptor
- Carmen Celedonia - Scenic Artist/Float Technician (died 2017)
- Jean Chodnicki - Balloon Technician
- Brian Collins - Mold Maker/Fabricator
- Brian Cook - Sculptor/Production Artist (1984-1989)
- Laurence Cook (1970-1980)
- Robert Davidowski (1954-1999; died 2023)
- Wendy Davidson - Painter
- Mo Dedrick
- Charles DeGeorge - Costume Designer
- Doug Depice - Scenic Painter
- Karen Dollon
- Geoffrey Donnelly - Carpenter/Welder (Left in 2023)
- Laura Duphiney - Concept Artist (2008-2020)
- Thomas Engstrom - Electrician/Float Technician (1979-2013)
- Susian Epstein - Fabricator
- Robin Erichson - Director of Operations (2000-2016, 2021-2023)
- David Farnum
- Susan Fisher - Painter
- Michael Fontana - Chief Sculptor/Designer (1987-1999, freelanced for Macy's until 2006)
- Adam Freeman
- Miguel Fuente
- Alan Gallagher (aka Moose) - Balloon Technician (Left in 2019)
- Nicholas Gamarello - Assistant Designer (1981-1987)
- Brett Gearity - Production and Events Manager (2000-2021)
- Mark Gill - Carpenter/Craftsperson (died 2015)
- Daniel Gluibizzi - Sculptor/Event Coordinator/Designer (1998-2018)
- Nancy L. Green - Sculptor
- Jesse Haack - Head of Animation/Fabricator (2017-2023)
- Jamal Haiat
- Loryn Harshman - Sculptor
- Jack Hedden - Junior Executive/Sculptor (1983-1987)
- Eric Hudspeth - Art Director/Lead Sculptor/Designer (2006-2024)
- Robert Hummel (1989-1994)
- Leslie Jaye
- Dany Jones - Designer/Balloon Technician (1989-2014)
- Sally Jones - Balloon Technician/Painter (1997-Mid 2000s)
- Matt Kaprielian - Balloon Studio Manager (2012-2023)
- Kyle Kiever (died 2007)
- Ronald Allen Kleemann - Painter (died 2014)
- Ron Knepper
- Tony Kovacic - Artisan (1978-2011)
- Valerie Kuehn - Sculptor/Mold Maker (1979-2013)
- Dave Lee
- David Lemyre - Electrician / Sculptor / Carpenter (Left in 2018)
- Patti Levinson
- Beth Lucas - Lead Scenic Painter (1984-2018)
- Judith Marchand - Painter (1969-1978)
- Eric Marchetta - Designer (2015-2017)
- Lauren Marchisotto - Archivist (2008-2020)
- Artie Martinez
- Brian McCormack - Production Artist (1995-2001; died 2024)
- Gail McLaughlin - Sculptor (1979-Early 2000s)
- Scott McNeil - Balloon Technician
- Michael Miles
- Jessica Moretti - Designer (2013-2015)
- Kate Mulhauser - Sculptor (2012-2019)
- Joel Naprstek - Painter/Concept Artist (2004-2020)
- Jerry Ospa - Design Studio Director (1988-2020)
- Jennifer Palmer - Lead Designer/Sculptor (2000-2012, freelances for the Parade as of 2024)
- Robert Pfitzenmeier - Float Technician (Left in 2016)
- John Piper - Senior Director (1980-2019)
- Rick Pomer - Creative Director (2017-2022)
- Katie Porter - Costume Designer
- Bob Provost - Designer (2011)
- Mariel Ramsperger
- Astrid Riemer - Designer/Scenic Painter (2003-2005)
- Jennie Rosario
- Eugene Rothman
- Joe Rovito
- Elise Sacco
- Dennis Salerno - Carpenter (Left in 2022)
- Kathie Salerno
- Angelo Santora
- George Sauter
- David Savage (Left in 1991)
- Susan Schaaff
- Catherine Schmitt - Sculptor
- Roger Shane - Carpenter/Welder (1969-1980)
- Jim Sheritan - Electrician
- Wendy Sheritan
- Anne Silvernail
- Loryn Sotsky - Balloon Technician/Sculptor/Artist (2000-2023)
- Susan Singer - Painter
- Bill Stabile - Scenic Artist
- William Squires - Costume Coordinator (2007-2022)
- Terry Sylvester - Scenic Painter
- Razmig Tcherchian - Lead Costume Shop Coordinator/Production Coordinator (2013-2018)
- Vincent Teta (1966-Early 1990's; died 2011)
- Dan Tierney
- Sean Tulner - Sculptor/Mold Maker (2014-2022)
- David Uhlig
- Betty VanHeyningen (died 1985)
- Tony VanHeyningen (died 2011)
- James Villano (died 2017)
- Justyn Wade
- Krista Wallach - Manager/Balloon Technician (1989-1998)
- Charlie Walsh - Welder
Former Seasonal Staff[]
- Gina Diane - Costume Department (Left in 2021)
Decorations[]
When a float is retired from the Parade lineup, it is often dismantled and disposed of. While some pieces are salvaged for future use, others are used as decorations in the Studio. Below is a list of float set pieces that are currently on display at Macy's Studios.
- Sesame Street (1994) - Sesame Street street sign
- Peter Pan's Pirate Ship - Signage
- Mother Earth - Rainbow
- Simple Simon's Fair - Pies flag
- Candy Creation Lab - Candytown Clock
- Carousel of Imagination - Pepper Roni
- Big Apple (2005) - Statue of Liberty, apple leaves
- New York Tin Toy - Baseball player
- International Cele-bear-ation Clock Tower - Canal boat bear
- Animal Wonders - Blue parrot
- M&M's on Broadway - M&M comedy and tragedy masks
- Shine On! - Crescent moon
- There's a Party in My City - DJ Lance Rock's boombox
- Local Heroes Helping Everyday - Cat stuck in tree
- Elves Raise the Roof - Windows, hang gliding elf, breakdancing golden elf
- Home Baked Goodness - Utensils holder, faux cast-iron decoration
- Zhu-niverse! - Mr. Squiggles, Num Nums, giant carrots
- Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Binocular eyes
- Free to Grow - Treehouse leaves, colored pencil tip
- Stirrin' Up Sweet Sensations - Cookie Express
- Goldfish on Parade - Robot, Brooke with wind-up car
- Waves of Conservation - Penguins
- Dreamseeker - Crow's nest
- The Enchanting World of Lindt Chocolate - Dragon marionette, boy in airplane
- At the Ball Game - American flag, Grandma's head, Baby head, crowd cut-outs
- Fun House - Grandma
- The Aloha Spirit - Plumerias
- Parade Day Mischief - Parachuting Yellow Sour Patch Kid
- Splashing Safari Adventure - Giraffe head
- Snoopy's Woodstock (2019) - Woodstock with telescope
- Home Sweet Home - Pie, gramophone
- Tom & Jerry's Tourist Trap - N.Y.C. letters, Pretzel Tom head, Jerry with drone
Video Tour[]
Below is a 360-degree video tour of the Macy's Studios, given by former Senior Director John Piper.
