Mall removes controversial 'glacier' display, will bring back Christmas tree after backlash


Owners of a North Carolina mall said they are listening to customers and adding key elements to the Santa set that will now include a traditional Christmas tree.

SouthPark Mall in Charlotte said in a statement that due to shopper feedback, it is removing a glacier-themed display and returning to traditional decor.

Thousands of Charlotte residents petitioned this week after learning the mall replaced its traditional Christmas tree with what they called a reinvented and modernized experience.

>> PHOTOS: North Carolina mall gets backlash for 'glacier' holiday display

Officials called it the new Glacier Santa Experience, but it didn't go over well with some shoppers.

"It's a good feature, but it doesn't replace Christmas," shopper Kurt Korol said.

Songwriter David Britt and his children felt the same way. He even wrote a song about it.

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Britt's children told WSOC-TV that they were shocked when they noticed the display at the mall this week.

"Me and my sister saw the glacier, and we were like, 'What's that?'" Wright Britt said.

"I felt really sad because I had been going to SouthPark Mall since I was little to sit on Santa’s lap behind the Christmas tree, and it felt really different this year," Charlotte Britt said.

They shared the catchy tune with thousands of people on YouTube, and more than 21,000 people signed a petition encouraging the mall to bring the Christmas tree back.

Saturday evening, the mall announced on Twitter it would bring back the traditional tree.

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