Dayton’s and Santa Bear merch at Shop in the City this year. Fun Fact: The image on the T-shirt is a photo of Shop in the City’s Linda Getchell in 1953 at Dayton’s visiting Santa. Photos: Chris Emeott
Shop in the City brings back a beloved piece of Dayton’s history for a new generation of holiday shoppers.
At Shop in the City, on Main Street in Downtown Stillwater, holiday traditions are alive and well, thanks to the return of a beloved Minnesota icon: Dayton’s Santa Bear, a plush teddy that appeared annually on Dayton’s shelves in Minneapolis from 1985 to 2007.
Shop in the City’s Jake Sanders owns the locally focused boutique. He runs it with the help of his mother, Linda Getchell. Sanders worked closely with Dayton’s to first bring back the Santa Bear for the 2022 holiday season. “We’re a retail partner with Dayton’s, so we provide Dayton’s merchandise, and we also collaborate with them to help with the Dayton’s [winter] market,” Sanders says. But the connection runs deeper. “My mom worked there. My dad lived downtown forever, shopped there. My wife and I met at Dayton’s.” It made sense for Sanders and his family to pick up the furry, bear-shaped torch.
The 2024 Santa Bear is dressed in an adorable ski outfit. Illustration: Shop in the City
The limited run of 2022 Santa Bears sold out, both at Shop in the City and at Dayton’s Winter Maker’s Market. The market returns again this year at The Dayton’s Project’s downtown space and will feature Shop in the City’s booth full of bears among its 75 local vendors. The market is open until December 28.
For many customers, the Santa Bear isn’t just a toy; it’s a connection to holiday seasons gone by. Some families collected a bear every year, starting in the mid-’80s and are excited to restart the tradition with kids and grandkids. “You see it, and you have that nostalgia built in,” Sanders says. “You think about your grandparents. You think about your parents. You think about yourself. Then, as you get older, you start thinking of the generation below you.”
Santa Bears through the years. From left to right: 1991, 2023 and 1985.
The 2022 bear had a classic red and green hat and scarf, and last year’s bear sported a knit sweater and hat, featuring a state of Minnesota shape.
The 2024 Santa Bear was officially released in mid-November and features a ski ensemble, complete with goggles, an oversized red coat and a hat with a pom. “We wanted to amp up the cute factor,” Sanders says. As this issue goes to press, Sanders says they’re still finalizing whether the bear will appear in two size options this year; the original Santa Bears were larger than the latest incarnations. Also new this year, Shop in the City will ship the Santa Bears to customers outside of the Metro, so folks farther afield can take part in the magic.
Getchell says the Santa Bear represents an important piece of Minnesota culture. “Our family is very sentimental about simple traditions that keep the spirit of the holidays,” she says. “Paul Bunyan and Babe have been widely recognized, and our family felt that the Dayton’s Santa Bear should be included as an iconic part of our folklore.”
Dayton’s itself still holds a special place in the hearts of Minnesotans. “The whole Dayton’s experience that we want to recapture is a sense of community, tradition and an annual event that celebrates simple pleasures,” she says. And now, her family is excited to see how the next generation will embrace the Santa Bear.
Santa Bear is available at Shop in the City and at Dayton’s Winter Maker’s Market.
Shop in the City
317 Main St.
Facebook: SHOP in the CITY
Instagram: @shopinthecitymn
