POCATELLO — From a “Stranger Things” cookbook to Magic: The Gathering tarot cards, a new novelty gift shop in Historic Downtown Pocatello is sure to have at least one item in stock that local geeks, nerds or anyone simply looking for a laugh can appreciate.
The Washing Cat Gift Shop , located at 109 N. Arthur Ave., officially opened its doors earlier this month and owners Aaron Durst and his wife Mary are anxiously awaiting the chance to pique your gift-giving interests.
“We like things that are fun and things that will make you smile,” Aaron said as he tossed a 20-sided die with a floating eyeball in the center onto the front counter of the store. “We don’t really spend a lot of money on really serious things, we spend money on fun.”
Aaron and Mary, who are from Ashton and Idaho Falls, respectively, but now live in Pocatello, have been married for 24 years. The story of the couple’s wedding might give you an idea of the items you might find in the store.
The couple decided that they wanted to elope so they booked a flight to Las Vegas. When they arrived, one of the first destinations they checked out was “Star Trek: The Experience.” While there, Mary saw an advertisement for a Star Trek themed wedding for $2,000.
“For $2,000 they said they would host a wedding for you, bringing in all their actors in Star Trek outfits,” Aaron said. “Mary said that we should do it.”
Later that night Aaron jokingly said he would totally do it if they won $2,000 as he slid a fresh $20 bill into a video poker machine.
“And I’m not kidding, I slid $20 into the machine and it just kept getting bigger and bigger,” Aaron said. “Mary kept telling me to cash it out just to see if it was real. So I did and she just started loading money into the machine by the fistful.”
Mary added, “He couldn’t lose.”
By 1 a.m. that night Aaron had enough money for the Star Trek wedding and by the end of the weekend they had Captain Kirk and the Klingons to help tie the knot.
Before taking the leap into owning his own small business, Aaron worked for a medical supplier in Pocatello, delivering oxygen, wheelchairs and other medical equipment to local clients.
“Then we moved to Rawlins, Wyoming, to buy another medical store,” Aaron said. “Then by some random fluke of a coincidence another guy bought that store from us because he was trying to get his son-in-law a job.”
After the medical business was sold, Aaron and Mary opened up a store in Rawlins called Geekish Things that was very similar to the one in the Gate City.
“That was more of a full-on game store for stuff like Magic: The Gathering, Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer,” Aaron said.
Because there are already several local game stores in the area and because the profit margins are pretty slim for tabletop games like Magic and D&D, Aaron said he feels he’s better off targeting those same types of people but with various novelty items.
“This Magic: The Gathering Cookbook won’t necessarily be at one of those game stores, but it will still touch the people who shop or hang out there,” he said. “My goal is to still impact and target those groups but in a different way.”
After spending nine years with Geekish Things in Rawlins, the pair relocated back to Southeast Idaho.
Say you want a PlayStation controller alarm clock, an oven mitt covered in mushrooms or a Bob Ross “Positive Energy” drink, it’s likely the Washing Cat will have something in stock for all your novelty needs.
Mary said that with time they hope to bring an even larger variety of products that can appeal to people of varying interests and backgrounds, including more traditional novelty gifts.
The Washing Cat is located in a section of the building that formerly housed Key Bank in downtown Pocatello. Aaron said he has some extra space that he’s currently contemplating what to do with. He has two virtual reality setups that he could add to one space. He said they were a huge hit in Rawlins.
“We have a game called Arizona Sunshine,” Aaron said. “It’s a zombie killer game and that’s really all it is. You go out and kill zombies. But what’s great about it is you can go in one booth and I can go in the other and now we’re cooperatively slaying zombies. And let me tell you, that changes everything. When you’re literally playing co-op with a friend next to you where you can hear them yelling, it’s dramatically better.”
Mary said one of the main reasons the pair moved back was because of how kind the people are in Southeast Idaho. It’s not that the people in Rawlins were unkind, she said, it’s just that the people here locally are the nicest people she’s ever been around.
Those looking to explore the various curiosities offered at the Washing Cat are encouraged to stop by anytime between 10:30 a.m. and 7 p.m. every Tuesday through Saturday.
Most Popular
Comments / 0