Roosevelt Field Santa glacier display was a mistake, says Simon malls president
The Glacier Santa set at Roosevelt Field mall is to be replaced with a more traditional Christmas setting after a social media protest. Even adding the tree didn't mollify the critics. Credit: Ryan PR Inc.
Customer backlash, much of it on social media, has melted away a faux-glacier holiday display at several Simon malls nationwide, including the one at Roosevelt Field.
David Contis, president of Simon Property Group, said in an email that the "new Santa experience" had been intended to deliver a "modern" and "interactive" event for families, but that critical public reaction required swift revisions.
"After listening to customer feedback, we immediately decided to remove and replace them with traditional decor, including Christmas trees," he said.
Roosevelt Field unveiled the new photo backdrop last week, featuring a sparkling faux glacier that projected glittering lights, but no Christmas tree. Some irate shoppers posted critical comments online about the nontraditional display, launching a social media crusade.
In a separate dispute, customers of Starbucks used social media to decry the design of the coffee chain's red holiday cups, which lack the snowflakes and ornaments of previous years.
The controversies are part of a tug-of-war over how closely retailers should embrace Christmas. Groups such as the pro-Christian American Family Association publish an annual "naughty or nice" listing of retailers rated based on their perceptions of whether the businesses promote Christmas and use the word widely in customer interactions.
On Long Island, an online petition started by West Babylon resident Jessica Juzwa-Rudin calling for the Roosevelt Field mall to "bring back Christmas" garnered 1,000 signatures in about six hours on Saturday. Juzwa-Rudin, 25, said she read about a similar controversy at a Simon mall in Charlotte, North Carolina, and decided to take action.
The glacier displays also were set up at five other Simon malls, in Charlotte; King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Houston; White Plains, and Hackensack, New Jersey, Simon said.
At Roosevelt Field, Simon now plans to roll out later this week an entirely new set with traditional decorations where families can take photos, a spokesman said.
The campaign against the new holiday display at Roosevelt Field peaked over the weekend with some protesters accusing the mall operator of being "too politically correct" and threatening to shop elsewhere.
With Laura Blasey
and Laura Figueroa
No new drums found at Bethpage Park ... Urologist convicted of sexual abuse ... Knicks win game 2 ... Cafeteria inspections
No new drums found at Bethpage Park ... Urologist convicted of sexual abuse ... Knicks win game 2 ... Cafeteria inspections
