In the original BeetlejuiceThe Maitlands own a hardware store, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Finally reveals what happened to it 36 ​​years after the Maitlands’ death. Despite being the protagonists of the original BeetlejuiceVery little is known about Adam and Barabara Maitland, with most of the film taking place after the characters die. However, Tim Burton’s classic comedy film revealed that the Maitland hardware store is owned by Adam and Barbara, with it being a complete mystery what happened to the store until Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Finally answered this question 36 years after the original film.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Brings back many of the cast members from the original BeetlejuiceWith Tim Burton writing new stories for Lydia, Delia and the titular bio-exorcist. However, there is a notable exception, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Failing to bring back Alec Baldwin’s Adam Maitland and Geena Davis’ Barbara Maitland. It is explained that the Maitlands went to the big next between the events of the first and second film, wrap the original protagonist stories. however, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Also managed to tie up one loose end with the Maitlands stories, with which is the Maitland hardware store.
Maitland Hardware became a coffee shop in Beetlejuice 2
It can be seen in winter river scenes
The original Beetlejuice takes place in the city of Winter River, Which was filmed in the real town of East Corinth, VermontSomething the franchise has returned to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Production designer Mark Scruton spoke with Condé Nast Traveller About some of the challenges that came with reusing the same city but making it fit in a 2024 setting. Scruton explained that they wanted to keep the small town feel but make it a little more trendy, meaning that they had to make some changes. One of the changes included turning Maitland Hardware into a coffee shop.
At one point, it was really big in the story and became quite a big city, and then we realized that knocked the character out of what it really was. So we just made it a little trendier. In the script, they mention things like micro-breweries. It wasn’t a pastiche of a cool city, but it needed to feel like it had become a hip place to go to. We have the Maitland hardware store, so we turned that into a cool coffee shop and we added a couple of extra buildings with a pet grooming salon and a vintage clothing store.
Although it is not explicitly stated in the history of Beetlejuice BeetlejuiceThe three decades that have passed since the original film marked the death of Maitland Hardware. By the time that the history of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Roll around, a coffee shop has taken over the building, getting rid of the last remaining sign of the Maitlands in Winter River. It makes sense that a hardware store owned by two dead men wouldn’t be around 40 years after their deaths, but it’s sad to see the Maitlands being scrubbed from Winter River.
Charles Deetz had a very different plan for Maitland Hardware at Beetlejuice
As part of his tourist trap plan
Although the Maitland Hardware store is now a coffee shop, it’s not the first type of business the building has almost been transformed into. In the original BeetlejuiceCharles Deetz sees an opportunity for money after discovering that there are in fact ghosts in the Maitlands’ house. This leads to Charles devising a plan to buy all of Winter River and turn it into a massive tourist trap centered around the supernatural, something he gives to his wealthy friends who come to dinner.
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At one point Beetlejuice, Charles pulls out a map showing his detailed plans for Winter River. The map highlights what he wants to turn the various buildings into, with Maitland Hardware listed. According to his map, Charles wanted to turn Maitland Hardware into an insect zoo, presumably filled with the ghostly spiders and other bugs seen around Betelgeuse throughout the film. This would have been a very strange turn for Maitland Hardware, with the Maitlands probably preferring the coffee shop to Charles’ original design.
Maitland Hardware’s replacement maintains the charm of Winter River’s original charm
While still updating it for 2024
While it may be sad to see Maitland Hardware go, the new coffee shop storefront manages to keep the charm of Winter River from the original Beetlejuice. As Mark Scruton discusses, the team behind Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Wanted to turn Winter River into a town that feels like it exists in 2024 while also maintaining the idyllic small-town feel present in the original movie.
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Rather than a franchise coffee shop, the one replacing Maitland Hardware appears to be a local business, allowing Winter River to maintain its small-town feel. The city still has its white storefronts, minimal signage and charming layout, with Beetlejuice Beetlejuices Take on Winter River with the qualities that made the town memorable in the original film.
Source: Condé Nast Traveller