“When it comes to Santa,” says Judy Noerr, “we don’t measure his waist, we measure his heart.” Through her Colorado-based company, Noerr provides Santas (and, in season, Easter Bunnies) to hundreds of shopping centers around the country, including Briarwood in Ann Arbor.
Gone are the days when beard-pulling kids expose imposters–all of Noerr’s Santas have real beards. Briarwood’s is perfectly cast for the part with a snowy white beard, rosy cheeks, and a heart of gold.
The jolly man is on the job from the first week of November through December 24. “The earlier the better,” he advises by telephone. “The lines grow longer closer to Christmas.”
Santa knows. He’s been a mall Santa for ten years, at Briarwood for four–preceded by a six-year stint in the Lansing area.
It all started when his wife made him a Santa suit. About the same time, a friend mentioned an opening for a mall Santa. Retired at the time, Santa took on the assignment. He doesn’t divulge too much about his off-season activities except to say he’s a big football fan. Over the holiday season, he spends every day except Thanksgiving in his chair at Briarwood’s center court.
Santa likes to joke around with the kids while hearing their wish lists and posing for photos by Noerr’s photographer. He recalls asking one youngster, “So, are you married?” The child answered, “No, and neither is my mom. And my mom and my stepdad aren’t married either.”
Other moments are more solemn. A few years back, Santa asked one serious little fellow what he wanted for Christmas. The young man answered, “I don’t want anything for Christmas. I just want my dad to come back from Iraq.” Says Santa, “I got tears in my eyes.”
No need to worry, Judy. Briarwood’s Santa has a heart.
