Mall manager fired after race reference in Santa flier

By GENE ZALESKI, T&D Staff Writer

ORANGEBURG, S.C. - The Prince of Orange Mall manager was terminated Thursday evening following the distribution of a controversial mall Santa search flier.

Sylvia Krajna was immediately removed from her position as mall manager following the distribution of the flier asking for “preferably Caucasian” individuals to apply for mall Santa, mall ownership confirmed Friday.

The flier noted the mall is “desperately looking for a good Santa this year (if we get two ’good men’ they can share the hours).”

It identified the basic qualifications as “hygienically clean; preferably Caucasian; jolly — enjoys being with children; natural beard a plus, but not necessary; okay to carry a few extra pounds! We’ll even provide extra milk and cookies as a bonus!”

The flier raised the immediate ire of some mall tenants.

Travis Griffin, who has leased a cell phone kiosk at the mall for about a year, said the flier is a “slap in the face” for all African-Americans who both work and shop at the mall. “This has drawn the line,” he said.

The Augusta, Ga.-based mall owner Hull Storey Retail Group received the flier via fax Thursday evening and upon receipt terminated the manager immediately, said John Gibson, Hull Storey president and chief executive officer.

“We called the mall manager and she confirmed to us at that time that she in fact had written this,” Gibson said. “This is completely contrary to our policies, to my personal beliefs and, I would hope, the values of the people in our company.”

Krajna, reached by phone Friday afternoon, said “I really have no comment” on the situation.

She did say Hull Storey is a proactive company and, if the community works together with the company, Orangeburg will be strengthened.

“Hull Storey is a strong company, a fabulous company, and Orangeburg is very lucky to have it as the owner of the mall,” Krajna said.

Gibson said Krajna was hired by Hull Storey about four years ago. She worked locally for about two years before going to North Carolina. Krajna returned to Orangeburg about a year ago as mall manager.

“We are proud to be a part of Orangeburg,” Gibson said. “Frankly, this is a very embarrassing moment for us. We are very, very sorry this has happened. We apologize and it certainly will not happen again.”

Mall operations are being overseen by Hull Storey’s regional management until a new full-time manager is hired within a few weeks, Gibson said.