After bringing 25 years of holiday joy and Christmas cheer to the Castro, it's the end of an era for the famous Castro Street Christmas house.
Since 2000, Castro residents and visitors have been delighted by the meticulous Christmas decorations at the famous Castro Street Christmas home.
The classic Edwardian home at 68 Castro was recently listed for $3.395M. The approximately 2,744-square-foot, 4-story home features 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms, a wine cellar, custom leaded glass windows, and antique light fixtures throughout.
The home was purchased in 1994 by homeowner Joffrey Swenson for $400,000. Now 70 years old, Swenson says he and his husband Sergio have decided to retire and move to Puerto Vallarta.
68 Castro St. has been listed for $3.395M. | Photo: Annette Liberty/Coldwell Banker
Originally from Minnesota, Swenson tells Hoodline he's lived in the Bay Area for 40 years. Swenson worked in the restaurant industry, owning breakfast and brunch spot Stacks, which at one time had five locations.
For over two decades, the home has attracted onlookers and crowds from across San Francisco, the Bay Area, and beyond to view the intricate Christmas decorations display that spanned the entire home from top to bottom, including lights, candy canes, nutcrackers, garlands, wreaths, and Santa Claus.
"It's strange, I did it for 25 years out of the love of Christmas," said Swenson. "It turned into a love of sharing Christmas."
Swenson says he grew up in a home that loved Christmas, and he "always had this aura around me that Christmas was our favorite time of the year."
"My mom was meticulous about decorations," added Swenson.
Swenson says he was inspired by another former famous Christmas house, the Tom & Jerry House on Dolores Heights. Swenson knew that once he purchased his own home, he would do the same thing when the holidays came around.
What started as a 12-foot Christmas tree in 2000 slowly grew over the years to the mesmerizing display it became.
"I kept adding stuff every year," said Swenson. "Then, 3 or 4 years in, I had an epiphany that I wanted to go all the way to the top." That's when Swenson rented a boom truck, and the rest is history.
Photo: Active Family Magazine/Instagram
Swenson tells Hoodline that the decorations take two 10-hour days to install and another two days to take down. Over the years, he developed a routine, rewired the home, and installed electrical outlets on the front to make installation easier.
"You go through life and don't realize how much it gives back and means to people," added Swenson.
For anyone wondering where all the decorations have gone, Swenson tells Hoodline they have been sold to the owners of the Corona Heights Storybook Home. Although one decoration, the Santa Claus, was sold to another homeowner in Pacific Heights.
Looking back on 25 years of delighting crowds, Swenson says the most important thing for him was giving back. "I didn't realize how important giving back was," said Swenson.
Swenson says he received thousands upon thousands of cards, letters, and emails from supporters. But there was one story that has always stuck with him.
With the home sitting directly across from CPMC Davies Campus, Swenson recalls that during the HIV/AIDS epidemic, he received a letter from an AIDS ward nurse thanking him for leaving the lights on late. Swenson says the nurse wrote that they would bring AIDS patients in wheelchairs to the window to enjoy the Christmas display.
"It brought them joy and love," wrote the nurse.
Now preparing to retire to Puerto Vallarta, Swenson says he's ready to relax and take it easy.
Asked if he plans to continue the Christmas lights tradition in Puerto Vallarta, he said, "I'm sure it will continue."
