Hardware Santa will be at The Toy Store this year!
For many years I had the distinct pleasure of volunteering down at Pleasants Hardware midtown during the Christmas season. I greeted shoppers as they passed by the unassuming Santa Land hidden in the back of the store.
Santa Claus held court at Pleasants Hardware on Saturdays during December for 13 years. There was something magical about him. He definitely had twinkle in his eye and jolly spirit. He surprised many a shopper as they searched for their hardware needs.
Santa had a hug for everyone and a picture, too, even if they did not have a penny to donate or canned goods to spare. Donations supported The Children’s Miracle Network, Sargent Santa or the Central Virginia Food Bank. Young and old stopped to spend a moment with Santa. Rich or poor, it didn’t matter, Santa gave everyone equal time.
Over time, the Pleasants Hardware Santa became a tradition for many families. Often, after the Richmond Christmas Parade you would find a line snaking through the aisles of folks wanting a picture with Santa. Santa even made the cover of Richmond’s own Style Weekly Magazine.
Some of my fondest memories with Santa include the year Santa saw a woman in the store and he spoke to her. I recall her face lighting up. Her husband explained that she had been in an accident that had caused amnesia. She was so excited to have her picture taken with Santa. We were all so moved by experiencing her sheer joy, there was not a dry eye in Santaland. Another memory is of the cutest little boy, he had no money or canned goods. His mother told him they couldn’t afford to see Santa. Santa walked to her and told her it was no charge, you’ve never seen such a smile on a child’s face.
Perhaps my most vivid and special memory was Christmas of 2003 when I got to take my first born child to see Santa. After all the years of seeing Santa with other babies, it was finally my turn to lay my baby in Santa’s arms.
Not long after that, Santaland at Pleasants Hardware was no longer. My heart was broken. I am sure many other Richmonders were sad to lose their Hardware Santa. I am happy to report that the Hardware Santa can be found once again, only in a more traditional setting. Head out to The Toy Center on Patterson Avenue (next to a Pleasants Hardware store) on Saturdays between 12 and 4 p.m. Or on Christmas Eve from 10 a.m. To 2 p.m. Don’t forget to bring your camera. While there feel free to make a donation to Child Savers.
