GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) -For those seeking the unusual, a local shop is curating a collection of life's peculiar treasures. GJ Oddities is a Grand Junction family-owned business dedicated to the unique.
"Snakes, we've got mummified frogs, hearts and brains of sheep," said Garret McManus, co-owner of GJ Oddities. "We were looking to offer the community a store that had oddities. A lot of people didn't know what oddities were."
What exactly are oddities? The store's inventory includes taxidermy ravens, a mummified baby iguana, and serial killer memorabilia, such as a Michael Myers figure.
Upon entering, many immediately notice a raven bear, a black bear turned raven with wings and piercing blue eyes.
"We couldn't pass it up," McManus said. He found the bear at an Oddities festival in Denver. "I got a lot of funny looks carrying that guy down the block, from the festival back to the hotel. It was about two blocks away, so I'm carrying this big old thing down the street. Cars were driving by and people thought it was great."
GJ Oddities also features wet specimens, such as sharks and bats preserved in jars, which fit the tone of "spooky season."
"It's always been a popular one, even into the holiday season," McManus said. "People are looking for those big Halloween decorations for their house that they can't pick up at the big market stores or big box stores."
While Halloween often brings symbols of death, such as skulls and graves, McManus sees a deeper meaning in their collection.
"The beauty of life comes with a lot of it," he explained. "A lot of our wet specimens, a lot of our wall decor specimens... It's the beauty of life."
GJ Oddities is located at 1000 N 9th St., Unit 7 in Grand Junction.