Photo: Chaiel Shaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — It's something you might expect to only see in the crags of a towering mountain; tucked away in the deep wilderness. But Bigfoot is alive and well in the bustling streets of Boston.
The Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute takes up an entire street corner in Roxbury. The storefront is stocked with cryptid-theme memorabilia, including a facsimile of the big guy himself.
"This is a life-sized, we think, replica of Bigfoot," Development Director Jenna Leschuk said. "We used to have a live tarantula in the store as well. We're in-between tarantulas right now."
But in lieu of giant spiders, patrons can buy items like books and Bigfoot t-shirts.
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
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But true believers beware, the fur-covered fiesta is mostly a front. Behind a secret door is a tutoring center, run by 826 Boston, a local branch of a non-profit that teaches kids how to write for free. It is one of many branches of the organization across the country; each with its own wacky theme. Leschuk said that helps get the creative juices flowing.
“No student or parent that comes in our doors feels like they’re going into some boring school-feeling area," Leschuk said.
The center is partially funded by the proceeds of the Greater Boston Bigfoot Research Institute storefront. And books available for purchase are written by 826 students themselves.
Photo: Chaiel Schaffel/WBZ NewsRadio
Sometimes though, people aren't in on the joke and will send in earnest Bigfoot sightings. Leschuk keeps a pile of those.
“So far no scientific body has reached out to us,” she said.
WBZ NewsRadio's Chaiel Schaffel (@CSchaffelWBZ) reports.
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