12/24/2025
Being Santa,
The true story behind why I play Santa and stand outside in front of my business and wave to the cars going by, and set up a place for pictures with Santa, and of collecting non-perishables for our local food bank.
It all started years ago about 18 years ago I had a customer who had a business supplying over 500 Shopping Malls across the country at Christmas time with real bearded Santas
His recommendation at the time was that I needed to dress up in a Santa outfit and stand by the street and wave to people just to draw attention to the building because it was so small and unnoticeable so with that in mind, he handed me a Santa suit to do just that. Went well, I borrowed it the next year in the third year I finally bought my own Santa outfit and this year is my eighteenth year of being Santa at City Brew Coffee Cypress.
This year’s Saturday Santa (three Saturdays)were very memorable, we upgraded our location which started as a pop-up tent to take pictures, to a trimmed-out 8x16 Arched Cabin from Jeremy and Gillian Cabins LLC equipped with heat and air conditioning. All set up it drew a lot of attention for Santa and the building itself. It was a win-win for Arched Cabins, City Brew and the food bank.
This year City Brew Cypress lost a regular customer and the biggest fan of our Santa. Jason Harsh. Jason would always order a large iced coffee with no ice. He always liked the Santa idea. In fact, he started years back getting pictures with Santa making his three children come in together, his health became a problem, with circulation in his legs from what I remember, but even without him he would make the kids sit with Santa, it became a tradition to have that done every year.
This year at the memorial golf tournament the Houston open, Jason had asked me to come dressed as Santa to the golf tournament which was a big request especially in 95° heat! So I went online and order a lighter outfit that was more like a Uncle Sam Santa, Red and white striped pants, blue coat with stars, and a regular Santa hat. It was quite the get up and it was a lot lighter and a lot cooler. So I was able to get out on the final day Sunday after some rain on Friday and Saturday, I got in very easily by just using Jason‘s name. I parked in the maintenance lot and looked for his office. Found him and he had me driven out to the Memorial merchandise tent, and I started waving at golfers and golf fans on the way. unexpected by the looks on most of the peoples faces. It was ingenious, you knew he was looking to increase sales in the park's merchandise tent. I started helping with the discount dart board and balloon game for shoppers to get a discount after they purchased any merchandise. They would step over to the discount table and try their luck. Soon I was being called Discount Santa. After, I was told the day was a sales record.
Jason was the guy, he worked hard to get the Houston Open back at Memorial Park, as superintendent he had so much to do with the reworking of Memorial Park’s golf course. He was well respected by all.
After the Houston Open, we talked several times about me purchasing hats for a golf event, I would go to every year in Michigan. Those calls were about the last ones that I would have with Jason, The sad part is that it was months after he passed that I found out. Our team at the coffee shop started missing him. Several unanswered texts and calls.
In September I was asked to play Memorial Park, before our round, I walked into the pro shop office to ask how Jason was doing.
Last Saturday, Santa Saturday two young adults stepped into to have their picture with me. I greeted them and asked if they had been here before, the girl answered yes, we come here every year. I looked at her hard in the eyes as she told me she was Jason's daughter, I broke into tears asking for a big hug. Crying, I said my condolences and we talked. The missing sister couldn't be here she was receiving her ring at Texas A M. So they spread out in one of the pictures so they could include their sister by Photoshopping her into the shot.
Turns out Jason and his three wonderful children would give that Santa picture to their mother for Christmas every year. This one would be very special.
RIP
Jason
Goggle
Celebration of life for Jason Harsh
