The Santa display at one mall in Charlotte, North Carolina just got a little more of a “climate change” type setting:
Taking the kids to visit Santa will be a bit different this year at SouthPark Mall.
Officials announced on Friday that instead of the traditional Christmas tree and North Pole set up, Santa will be sitting inside of a large glacier.
Simon Property Group officials say the new “Glacier Santa experience” is aimed to modernize the holiday experience.
Kids visiting Santa at the mall will now do so under a faux glacier instead of the shadow of a Christmas tree that was on display in previous years.
.@simonmalls honestly, you have to be kidding me. What is that? This is awful. #BringBackTheTree pic.twitter.com/VPakPNVBwB
— Jess Roepken (@JessRoepken) November 7, 2015
Before and after:
https://twitter.com/andilockard/status/662807775593021441
Oh my.
A petition to #BringBackTheTree is now getting plenty of signatures:
Local mall ditches Christmas Tree #Bringbackthetree @midnight @WBTV_News @wsoctv https://t.co/R6GkIQsU7S
— JP Amick (@JoelAmick) November 7, 2015
Petition To CEO of South Park Mall Demanding They #BringBackTheTree is Now Going Viral https://t.co/6R1DpqBte8
— Kohleen Nornes (@KohleenNornes) November 7, 2015
Meanwhile, the mall’s holiday glacier is being ridiculed and criticized:
The glacier is ridiculous. Patrons value the tradition, not the untraditional. #BringBackTheTree https://t.co/36j4dyXv8E
— Meghan Miles (@meghanmusgrave) November 7, 2015
Santa's #glacier looks like a tidal wave and a massive jellyfish ? Get real @SouthParkMallNC #BringBackTheTree pic.twitter.com/SaEStpY18F
— Corley Sullivan (@sullicor) November 7, 2015
Have you lost your mind? #bringbackthetree @simonmalls I will take my money to another mall that is now trying to be PC
— jackfesperman (@jackfesperman) November 7, 2015
You've got to hand it to @SimonMalls. That new "glacier" leaves me cold. #BringBackTheTree
— Lisa Stryker (@Lisa_Stryker) November 7, 2015
There’s even a song for #BringBackTheTree mocking the mall’s display:
RT – "Have A Holly Jolly Glacier" @SouthParkMallNC @simonmalls PLEASE #BringBackTheTree ! https://t.co/tSIGsnOygf
— David Britt (@davidbritt) November 7, 2015
Update:
.@SouthParkMallNC says due to shopper feedback, they are removing the glacier/returning to traditional décor. pic.twitter.com/EHhYgrwwrw
— WSOCTV (@wsoctv) November 8, 2015
We're adding key elements to the Santa set this week & listening to our customer feedback, we will now include a traditional Christmas tree.
— SouthPark Mall (@SouthParkMallNC) November 7, 2015
Pics sent to us showing that the glacier experience is being taken down at SouthPark Mall. @WCCBCharlotte pic.twitter.com/uFUjMGf5UE
— Marvin Beach (@MBeach14) November 8, 2015
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