I Had Breakfast With Santa

Image of eye above black text. Image of breakfast above black text in center. Image of Santa Claus in lower. All on white background. Along outer edge, black text on red background.

L. S. Ayres was a department store chain that flourished with the popularization of malls in the 1970s. The company was founded in 1872, with the flagship store located in Indianapolis, Indiana. A well-known restaurant, The Tea Room, was located within the store. Celebrating Christmas at the restaurant became a wide-spread custom for many in the area. Shoppers familiar with the Tea Room Christmas menu nostalgically remember the chicken pot pie and desserts, such as the snowman ice cream made with scoops of vanilla. The Tea Room closed in 1990, but the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis has opened a recreation of the L.S. Ayres Tea Room where visitors can experience the same holiday atmosphere, eat the same dishes, and view artifacts from the Tea Room.