Spring Break
Christmas With The Clauses
Local Couple Shares Experience Of Being Christmas' 'First Couple'
Kate King
Issue date: 12/10/07 Section: Finals Extra
On the walls inside Santa's house are letters sent to the Eastbrook Mall from local children. Every year the Carlquists display the letters, which often include artwork. If the children include a return address, then the Carlquists will mail back personal replies.
"This is a small town so we can afford to do small town things," Carlquist said, adding that the personal and intimate atmosphere at Eastbrook Mall is something bigger malls, like Buckland Hills, can't provide.
Carlquist, a former resident of Willimantic, is a well-known figure to many of the 4,000 to 5,000 children whose families he estimates visit and take pictures with him each year.
He has worked at the mall for 12 years, formerly at a business he ran called "Mug Shots," a stand in the mall that sells personalized gifts.
Carlquist still owns the business but is no longer active in it, having entered retirement except for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve when he works as Santa Claus. However, he is still able to keep in touch with his cliental. Some of his customers from "Mug Shots" are now married and bring their children to sit on Santa's lap.
Anne Carlquist was also an employee of the Eastbrook Mall before she became both Mrs. Carlquist and Mrs. Claus. She managed the footwear store Westies and would often visit her sister, who was the manager of the GNC store.
It was there, in the GNC across from "Mug Shots" that the Carlquists met in 1997. In 2000 they decided to go into the Santa business together. They have been married now almost four years.
The average age of visitors to Santa is about four or five years old. However, there is no height, age or even weight limit to visiting Santa and sitting on his lap.
So far this season, the ages of customers have ranged from a 7-week-old baby to a grandmother who wouldn't divulge her age - Anne guessed she was in her mid-70s.
Students from nearby colleges and universities also stop in to take a picture with Santa.
"This is a small town so we can afford to do small town things," Carlquist said, adding that the personal and intimate atmosphere at Eastbrook Mall is something bigger malls, like Buckland Hills, can't provide.
Carlquist, a former resident of Willimantic, is a well-known figure to many of the 4,000 to 5,000 children whose families he estimates visit and take pictures with him each year.
He has worked at the mall for 12 years, formerly at a business he ran called "Mug Shots," a stand in the mall that sells personalized gifts.
Carlquist still owns the business but is no longer active in it, having entered retirement except for the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve when he works as Santa Claus. However, he is still able to keep in touch with his cliental. Some of his customers from "Mug Shots" are now married and bring their children to sit on Santa's lap.
Anne Carlquist was also an employee of the Eastbrook Mall before she became both Mrs. Carlquist and Mrs. Claus. She managed the footwear store Westies and would often visit her sister, who was the manager of the GNC store.
It was there, in the GNC across from "Mug Shots" that the Carlquists met in 1997. In 2000 they decided to go into the Santa business together. They have been married now almost four years.
The average age of visitors to Santa is about four or five years old. However, there is no height, age or even weight limit to visiting Santa and sitting on his lap.
So far this season, the ages of customers have ranged from a 7-week-old baby to a grandmother who wouldn't divulge her age - Anne guessed she was in her mid-70s.
Students from nearby colleges and universities also stop in to take a picture with Santa.
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LL
posted 12/10/07 @ 12:04 AM EST
The Eastbrook Mall is in Mansfield, not Willimantic.
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