Shoppers at the Concord Mall in Wilmington, Delaware are noticing something a bit different this Holiday season. The beloved Santa A. Claus and his wife Mrs. Claus are no longer there.
“I was just told that my contract was up and they found somebody else to take my place,” said Santa A. over the phone.
While the Concord Mall found another Santa to replace Santa A., they didn’t find a new Mrs. Claus. The new Concord Santa explained her absence.
“She stayed at the North Pole last year. She’s taking care of the elves.”
Before this holiday season, Santa A. Claus and Mrs. Claus had worked at Concord for 18 years. They became so popular that people across the country visited the mall just to sit on their laps and tell them their Christmas wishes.
“I wish I was still there,” said Santa A. “After 18 years I have an awful lot of friends there and people that I had on my lap. Now I have their children on my lap.”
Kelly Eichholz of Wilmington is disappointed with the sudden change.
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“We were just shocked and I guess a little disappointed that we weren’t going to be able to carry on the tradition of having the pictures with Mr. and Mrs. Claus,” said Kelly.
The Santa switch didn’t seem to affect 4-year-old Jacob however. He eagerly told the new Santa what he wants this Christmas.
“Transformer and a surprise.”
Santa A. is now working at the Jersey Garden Mall in Elizabeth, New Jersey. You can visit his website for more information.
