AGAWAM – The 141 Main St. Deli Restaurant in Agawam is bringing the holiday spirit to families once again this year with their annual Breakfast with Santa event.

Joanne Locke, who owns the restaurant with her husband Rick and son Mike, first began the event 11 years ago. She said, “I used to be an elementary school teacher, doing stuff like this has always been something that comes easily to me.”

Another source of inspiration for the breakfast’s inception was Locke’s own family. “My own grandchildren were young then, so I could incorporate them being involved with it,” she told Reminder Publishing.

Despite the tradition being 11-years-old, Joanne said the breakfast hasn’t changed much over the years. “It’s pretty true to the way it started, we close the restaurant. It’s something just for the families, everybody is given their own table,” she explained.

She said one of the most significant traditions she’s kept throughout the years has been not telling the children that Santa is coming.

“Santa is not here when the children come, I’ve kept that throughout. I do a little dramatic play acting with them,” she said. “They start singing and wishing that Santa would come then he surprisingly appears outside.”

Locke explained the magic doesn’t stop once Santa enters the restaurant. “It’s very personal, so when he comes in its very personal. It’s very intimate,” she noted. “Santa calls each one out by their name, he knows each of their names and he calls each one out and they get to talk to him.”    

She said this was her favorite part of the breakfast. “The excitement and anticipation of the children when they’re waiting for Santa when they’re wishing and hoping and the surprise when he shows up.”

A lot of the people who play Santa continue to do it for years. “The Santas that we choose, many of them have done it year after year. They’re very good with the kids,” she said. “I’m very proud of it.”

Each family gets their own table at the breakfast complete with name cards “so they know exactly where to sit when they walk in.” Locke said it’s not just kids who enjoy the breakfast with Santa each year.

 “We usually have as many adults as children, because they enjoy it as much as the kids,” she explained. She noted each year she sees familiar faces return to the breakfast excited to see Santa. “We have many people that come every single year, four to five years in a row till their kids are too old for it,” she said.

Locke stated the event is so popular each year they usually have a waiting list after seats have sold out. “We usually do two seatings, there’s usually 60 [people] at each,” she said. “We sell out, we sell out each year. We usually have a waiting list.”

At the time of press, there were still seats available, but if people want to participate in the breakfast they should buy tickets as soon as possible.

“I’d say, right now people are thinking Thanksgiving, but we still have people that have called, but it will sell out,” she said.  

Adult tickets cost $20, children’s tickets cost $12 and children one-years-old and under eat for free. Tickets can be bought online at https://www.mainstreet-deli.com/events, over the phone by calling at 821-9881 or by stopping by the restaurant on 141 Main Street. Locke emphasized the breakfast is by reservation only.

The breakfast will also feature a story telling and craft time.