Mega Santa In Wauwatosa Brings Back Memories And Cheer

WAUWATOSA, WI — One person's trash is another person's treasure. Larry Awe of Wauwatosa has been displaying his treasure — a 14-foot-tall solid-fiberglass Santa Claus — for almost 30 years.

Before it was displayed outside Awe's home at 72nd and Garfield, it was showcased on the roof at the old Capitol Court Mall. Awe worked at the mall in maintenance from 1977 until it closed in 2001.

"One year, he (Santa) blew off the top and was all in pieces," Awe told Patch.

He asked if he could have the Santa and was happy to be told yes. Awe also obtained some large candy cane decorations the mall was selling because it didn't want them anymore. The decorations date back to the '50s, when the mall first opened. Awe bought as many candy canes as he could.

Santa comes in two pieces and is not very heavy, according to Awe.

"If you get three people, you can lift it," he said. "It's more clumsy than anything."

Awe said that at first, the sight of the mega Santa was a "wow" factor around the neighborhood. The neighborhood has changed over the decades.

Awe's wife Deborah died in 2017. He used to do gardening and other activities with his wife.

"We were the young couple with the kids, and now I'm the older guy," Awe said.

Remember the time

There is something to be said for nostalgia. Awe posted photos of the Santa on the Facebook group "Old Milwaukee." Awe told Patch people bring up Capitol Court all the time, especially when discussing the Kooky Cookie house. The structure was popular in the '60s and '70s.

In 2014, Gino Salomone of Fox 6 News and Joel Brennan, president of Discovery World, announced the museum-quality re-creation of the Kooky Cookie House.

Awe told Patch he still has some signs for the gingerbread house from the mall. There were robots in the window making cookies, Awe said.

"They (Capitol Court) did so many things with different displays," Awe said.

When reflecting on his time at Capitol Court, he said there are mostly good memories. He said the mall took good care of him and his family. He recalled the petting zoo and going to school to learn how to put up lights and other electronic features at the mall.

His children still bring up memories of the Capitol Court. Awe said they talk about eating lunch there and being the first in line for attractions such as elephant rides. Due to his job as maintenance chief, his kids would sometimes get to experience things there more than once.

Before the mall was demolished, Awe found a shoe with Michael Jordan's signature in the basement. He gave the shoe with the signed message, "My Very Best," to his son-in-law, who sold it for $55,000.

"It turned out to be very valuable," Awe said.

'We need merriment'

People still ask about the mega Santa, and Awe will point out to them that it is at his house. The first few years of displaying the statue would attract a line of cars outside. Sunday nights seem to be the busy night for onlookers, but Awe admits it has dwindled over the years.

Awe laughed as he remembered his daughters complaining as they helped him set up Santa on Thanksgiving Day. Yet the frowns turned into smiles when people stopped by to take pictures.

On Wednesday, passerby Alice Rouleau parked her car to look at the mega Santa. Rouleau smiled and told Awe she had to stop and see it for herself. The pandemic and other issues have darkened the festive mood, according to Rouleau.

Rouleau told Patch, "Right now we need merriment."

Awe said he is happy people remember the mega Santa and want to see it. In times like this, he said, it's a good thing.