CHESTERFIELD, Mo. – A photo of Santa in what looks like an empty mall is making its rounds on social media.
Todd Moore and his wife Alissa, were at the Chesterfield Mall in Missouri on Tuesday when Todd snapped the photo.
It shows Santa sitting in a nearly empty mall – with no one in line to take a photo with him.
"The carousel doesn't run, the shops are almost all gone, and in the middle sits lonely Santa waiting for children to visit," Alissa shared on Facebook.
She said just a few years ago the mall was beautiful and bustling with the energy and magic of Christmas.
The good news – the lines probably won’t be very long if you want to visit Santa.
A friend of Alissa also shared the photo to her Facebook, "Parents, if you want to avoid the long Santa lines go visit this jolly Santa, he looks a little lonely," Jessica Barber wrote. Her post has thousands of shares.
Several people on the post even praised the Santa at the mall.
"Took my nine-year-old there just Wednesday 12/5/18 at 6 p.m., this was what we saw before getting on the escalator. SO SAD..but Santa was FABULOUS I hope they revitalize t somehow. I loved this mall as a kid," Cindy Sweeny wrote.
On Thursday, Casey Norton said on Facebook, "This is the sweetest Santa at Chesterfield Mall!! He talked to my kids for a long time and there was NO line!! Please please please go visit this Santa and give him company!!!!!"
Norton even started a hashtag -- #GoSeeChesterfieldSanta
In July, Georgia-based Hull Property Group purchased the mall and said it plans to take the lead on a redevelopment of the 1.3 million-square-foot property.
According to the mall’s website, over 35 stores and restaurants are still open.
Here's what other areas of the mall looked like in November of 2018, click here if you don't see the photo gallery below:
Chesterfield Mall | November 2018
You can visit Santa at the Chesterfield Mall Monday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m.
