The Grinch has been spotted in downtown Moose Jaw, and on Thursday and Friday nights he’s available from 6 – 8 p.m. for a family-friendly photo shoot at Past Times Old Time Photography & Gifts.
The idea to hire the not-so-jolly green Grinch from Mount Crumpet came after several of the shop’s customers revealed a shortage of places in town where you can buy Grinch-themed gifts.
“It was a new brand for Moose Jaw. There wasn’t a lot of Grinch-areas where you could buy (this merchandise). We had customers in asking about the Grinch so we decided to go – and when you go, you might as well go big,” said Mike Thul, the shop’s owner.
The photo op began in 2022, and this year marks the second annual visit of the green spoilsport.
“He only works for us. He doesn’t hire himself out to others. We found him, we have the costume, (and) he just uses ours,” Thul said. The Grinch has been quite popular and Thul said the studio has been consistently booked up on each night the photo shoots have taken place.
Due to this popularity, Thul has confirmed the Grinch will continue with his visits next year.
To “go big,” as Thul stated, the shop will be hosting a special Grinch Day on Saturday, Dec. 16. The occasion will be called the ‘Notoriously Moose Jaw Grinch Day,' and everyone is invited to “get your Grinch on.”
At the one-day event you can get a picture taken with the Grinch from 12 – 3 p.m. on a walk-in-only basis. There will also be a Grinch-themed craft and a buy one, get one half price or less deal on items of an equal or lesser value.
The store now features a Grinch-themed section and contains several ideal Christmas presents including coffee mugs, cookie jars, and more. In the spirit of the holidays, the buy one, get one half price deal that starts on Grinch Day will continue until Dec. 24.
“(It has) pretty much anything you would want in Grinch,” Thul said about the shop’s selection. “And they make the perfect Christmas presents for those Grinch-eous people.”
The Grinch-themed items have been in demand this year, and Thul said the shop also carries several popular gift items including snow globes. “We’re also selling battery-operated or electrical snow globes. They blow the snow around and light up,” he said.
Shoppers can also purchase a wide selection of novel Christmas-tree decorations right from the branches of the shop’s 15 professionally decorated trees.
“The old-time photography (service) is a great Christmas gift idea for families. We have the 20s, a Western, and a Victorian (theme),” Thul said. Photography sessions take about 20 minutes per group, you keep the pictures, and you can buy as many as you like. This remains a permanent year-round service at the shop, where The Grinch only compliments this service during the holiday season.
To visit with the Grinch, Thul recommends at least a one-day notice as he books up quickly.
Past Times Old Time Photography & Gifts is located at 26 Main Street North and can be reached at 306-692-9955.
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