NJ mall brings back traditional holiday display after revamp’s chilly reception

EDISON — Menlo Park Mall is trying to stay on Santa's good list with this year's Christmas display.

The Route 1 mall was the target of social media scorn in 2015 when Santa's chair was initially situated inside an "enchanted glacier" with no Christmas tree or any other traditional symbols of the season.

After a call for boycotts of other Simon-owned malls featuring similar icy decorations, the display was changed to a more traditional one.

"The new Santa set we introduced in 2015 was well received by the vast majority of our shoppers and was brought back again this year for families to enjoy," a Menlo Mall spokesman said. The display will include a red couch for Santa with neon arches lighting the area. It is still being constructed ahead of Santa's scheduled arrival on Nov. 3

"This year, the mall has added an array of additional holiday décor elements that shoppers will delight in seeing throughout the property, including lush garland, oversized decorated wreaths at mall entrances and dazzling ice curtains hanging from the ceilings," the spokesman said.

The organizer of the "Boycott Simon Malls" Facebook page would not comment on the 2016 display until it is completed.

According to mall management, the mall just finished a year-long, multi-million dollar renovation in significant sections of the mall both indoors and outdoors that includes a new dining pavilion and a giant digital screen in the center court.

Contact reporter Dan Alexander at Dan.Alexander@townsquaremedia.com.

.More from New Jersey 101.5