Christmas Store Planned for Santa Claus, Indiana

SANTA CLAUS, IN — A new attraction in Santa Claus, Indiana is under construction and is scheduled for an August opening. The Santa Claus Christmas Store will be located in the Kringle Place Shopping Center. Owned and operated by Philip Koch and his Santa Claus based company HO HO HOldings, LLC, the store features over 6,500 sq. ft. of retail space including gifts, indoor and outdoor Christmas lights, wreaths, tree trimmings, nativities, Christmas yard art, home décor and collectibles.

Commercial decorations and lighting will also be offered along with an online store currently under development. Within the store is a magical place called Santa’s House. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year, children can visit with and have their photos taken with Santa. In 2010, Santa will be available May through December. Candy, fudge, cookies and other items will also be sold in the store.

“We’re creating a magical place that families can experience year-round,” said Koch. “This will be the largest Christmas store of its kind in the region, similar to attractions found in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee or Frankenmuth, Michigan. For now, it won’t be as big as those attractions, but we have plans to expand in the future. We have lots of tourists during the summer. Our goal is to attract people from all over the world to Santa Claus, Indiana, no matter the season.”

The Santa Claus Christmas Store will occupy the combined spaces of 3 former tenants in the shopping center, including World Class Travel which continues to operate out of the home of Julie Korn. Korn has also been hired as the manager of the new Christmas Store. Other plans include a huge Santa in lights peaking over the roof of Kringle Place and a giant LED Christmas tree in the parking lot.