When Simon Malls, the U.S.’s largest real estate trust and owner of several of the biggest malls in Philadelphia decided to go with a modern and interactive Santa presentation, it did not anticipate the reaction that followed.
The new display had Santa sitting in a “giant glacier” without a Christmas tree, reindeer, or any other of the traditional symbols of the season around him. The plan was to try out this new ‘hip’ design in six malls, including the King of Prussia Mall.
However, the new set up did not sit well with some customers. Apart from complaints that the supposed glacier looks more like a cheap space ship straight out of a B movie, a lot of people saw it as yet another move in the “War on Christmas,” something that has become a key discussion point for this time of year. This week Starbucks has come under national criticism for their holiday cup design. The minimalist style features no Christmas trees or snowflakes and drew fire from all corners of the internet.
@shegabstoomuch @PrestonSteve933 lol he looks like he’s in some retro pad
— Leslee (@westhollywoots) November 9, 2015
The King of Prussia is in a unique situation compared to the other five malls. As the second-largest mall in the country by size, and the largest in terms of actual retail space, the Mall had two Santa displays, with Santa in The Plaza being the new, glacier version while the one in front of Bloomingdale’s in The Court a traditional one, with the customary decorations.
The dual setup might be the reason why the Spaceship Santa in King of Prussia caused less of a stir than it did in similar displays in North Carolina, North Jersey and Long Island. However, even with the softer outcry, Spaceship Santa will be going back to his home planet.
“In six of our nearly 200 malls, Simon had developed a new Santa experience,” the company stated in a release. “It was our intention to experiment with delivering a modern interactive experience for the family. After listening to customer feedback, we immediately decided to reinstall our existing Christmas decor and hope our customers will join us in celebrating the Christmas season.”
