BETHLEHEM, Pa. — You better watch out, you better not cry: Santa Claus is officially a resident of Main Street.
Dear Santa — a new holiday shop in the Christmas City — is owned by Tom Dubreuil.
Dubreuil has portrayed St. Nick in the Christmas City, working with the Downtown Bethlehem Association, for the past five years.
Ornaments, German imports
Dear Santa carries Christmas ornaments and other wares imported from Germany, along with a special room that sells items exclusively created by local artisans.
There's also plenty of stuffed animals for purchase (reindeers, snowmen, Santas, penguins and polars bears), wooden nutcrackers, Nativity sets and Advent calendars.
But perhaps what's the most merriest news of all is what's to come.
Dubreuil, dressed as St. Nick, will host family-friendly events in the children's workshop starting at the end of May.
"Families can come decorate an ornament or cookies with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and then come and play in the workshop while mom and dad hang out or shop or just need to get off their feet for a minute," said Dubreuil, of Bethlehem Township.
Kids of all ages can also write letters to the Jolly Old Elf on-site and sign the "nice" guest list located near the front door.
Gifts from the North Pole
Housed in the shop formerly known as Young's Magasin de Quartier and located directly across from the Historic Hotel Bethlehem, Dubreuil took over the lease in February.
Some elves, — er, students — from Lehigh Valley Charter High School of the Arts' production class helped with renovations.
Santa — er, Dubreuil again — and his team also tore out the ceilings and replaced them with twinkling lights — something you'd likely see in the North Pole.
Dubreuil, who works as a director of student affairs at Pennsylvania State University’s Lehigh Valley campus, found some of the decor on Facebook. That includes a nutcracker that weighs 70 pounds and an antique Santa Claus that sits on a sleigh placed in the shop's window.
Say 'hi' to Santa
"Sometimes little kids will give me a double take and mom and dad will ask if I know Santa. I kind of give them a little smile and a wink to the kids."Tom Dubreuil, owner of Dear Santa
After portraying St. Nick all these years, Dubreuil added in some of his own enhancements.
There's a wall of photos of Santa's reindeer: Dasher, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen and Rudolph, and a secret red and green door for elves only (if you listen closely, you can hear them working).
"When people come in, sometimes little kids will give me a double take and mom and dad will ask if I know Santa. I kind of give them a little smile and a wink to the kids," he said.
For kids who recognize him sans the suit and in his day clothes, there is a secret phrase that only Santa knows.
"I won't be in here as Santa except for the events, and Santa's not going to work the cash register," Dubreiul said.
"What we tell the parents to tell their kids is that Santa may be in there, in kind of human clothes and in disguise, checking up on things. But if you say, 'Merry Christmas,' he'll talk to you for a little bit."
Dear Santa is at 458 Main St., Bethlehem. For info, click here.
