Cleveland’s ‘A Christmas Story’ house up for sale
CLEVELAND — Just in time for the holidays, The Christmas Story House — the very real residence that stood in for the fictional Parker home in the classic 1983 holiday film — is for sale, along with related campus buildings.
Commercial real estate firm Hoff & & Leigh of Fairlawn listed the property on Monday morning. It is being jointly marketed nationally and globally by REAG, a merger and acquisitions firm in Cleveland and Pittsburgh.
The main house is at 3159 West 11th Street in Cleveland’s Tremont neighborhood and is operated as a tourist attraction. The sale includes the house, nearby museum and gift shop, the adjacent “Bumpus House” and four additional properties.
The sale goes beyond a simple real estate transaction to include the businesses that owner Brian Jones has nurtured over the past two decades, says REAG’S managing director Scott Mashuda.
Built in 1895 and purchased by its current owner in 2004, the original Christmas Story house has been “nostalgically upgraded with somewhat ancient appliances,” according to a Hoff & Leigh real estate announcement posted on achristmastoryhouse.com.
The museum features an extensive collection of original costumes, props, behind-the-scenes photos and other items from the movie and a 4,000-squarefoot gift shop. A detached garage is home to a 1939 Ford Lafrance firetruck like the one featured in the film and is included in the transaction.
The remaining properties include the “Bumpus House,” home to the Parker family’s neighbors (and their scavenging canines) in the movie. Also for sale: Two public parking lots, a private employee parking lots and two empty lots that create room for further expansion.
Jones, a huge fan of the “A Christmas Story” movie, purchased the house on ebay in December of 2004 while he was in his 20s.
His love affair with the movie began a few years earlier when Jones, who aspired to be a naval aviator, found he didn’t have the necessary sight requirements.
To cheer him up, his parents made a copy of the movie’s infamous leg lamp and mailed it to him. One thing led to another, and Jones was in the leg lamp business. Then, his wife found out that “A Christmas Story House” was for sale. So, she sent him a funny email that he should buy it.
That soon became a serious thing and Jones was on his way to Cleveland for the first time to sign papers. Significant renovations were needed to turn the house and surrounding properties into a tourist attraction.
Public tours started on November 25, 2006. Annual paid admissions have numbered more than 75,000, with even more visitors to the gift shop, according to the A Christmas Story House & Museum website. Overnight rentals have also been available in the house.
Now, close to 50 years old, Jones is moving on to new things and the businesses and real estate are for sale.
“Brian [ Jones] has been a wonderful neighbor over the years,” says Cory Riordan, executive director, of Tremont West Development. “He has had a pretty long run on his investment in the neighborhood. He made it a unique destination. If it’s time for him, then we commend him for the work he’s done in the neighborhood.”
“We really hope a buyer comes by who knows what to do with it,” he says. “As a unique asset, it will have particular buyers. We will work with whoever comes into the neighborhood.”
The asking price and many other details are not being made public. “We are not able to share any additional information beyond the fact that the house and neighboring properties are for sale,” according to a public relations spokesperson. “Detailed information about the assets will be shared only with qualified buyers under confidentiality agreements.”
Mashuda adds, “We will let the market determine the price. We’ll reach out to individuals and strategic buyers who can be the successors to what Brian built. Part of our filtering process is to find the right buyer and the right fit.”
Those who email forsale@ achristmasstoryhouse.com receive a scripted email that says, “If you are interested in making an offer, please respond to this email telling us about the following:
■ 1. Yourself and your background.
■ 2. Your finances: Income, net worth, source of funds for purchase.
■ 3. A Theme: Why I want to buy A Christmas Story House & Museum.”
Attempts to reach owner Brian Jones have been unsuccessful.
The house, ranked fourth on Trip Advisor’s “Top Attractions in Cleveland” list, has been open yearround, seven days a week to tourists. It will remain open during the sale process.
Although “A Christmas Story” is not set in Cleveland, parts of the movie, starring Peter Billingsley as young Ralphie Parker, were filmed in town in 1983.
A sequel, “A Christmas Story Christmas” premieres Thursday on HBO Max, starring Billingsley and other members of the original cast.