Naperville turned into Whoville on Black Friday! The  grumpy, green Dr. Seuss character known as The Grinch  will be hidden in nearly 60 stores and businesses. It’s all part of Naperville’s Grow Your Heart Three Sizes promotion this holiday season to help showcase the city’s independent businesses.

According to American Booksellers Association President Becky Anderson, who happens to be a Naperville resident,  “What could be more fun than finding the Grinch, but finding him at local independent businesses in your community?”

Grow Your Heart Three Sizes celebrates the uniqueness, fun and strength of community as a way to remind shoppers about how independent businesses shape local culture. The promotion is also an awareness about IndieBound Naperville’s “Love your Local” campaign and the value of shopping  locally, too.

So where’s the Grinch?

The Grinch is stationed throughout Naperville, of course. He’s turning 55 this year, and to celebrate, the guy is visiting different local businesses all through the month of December. Spot him and win prizes, including candy canes, books and more.

Pick up a “Grow Your Heart Three Sizes” search list with the names of all the businesses, and collect an “I Found the Grinch at ___________” card for each Grinch they spot.

Collecting Grinch slips from 16 or more businesses and turning them in at Anderson’s will win a candy cane and an entry for other, larger prizes of Dr. Seuss-related books and toys to be drawn on December 28 at the  Grinch party beginning at 2PM at Anderson’s Bookshop in downtown Naperville.

Since Positively Naperville is the city’s small independently-owned  monthly publication, this news source will participate by encouraging shoppers to discover their independent business community as it has since the newspaper first was launched in 2001.

The photo in this post is a  sample of how the Grinch card appears on a shelf at one of Naperville’s  independently-owned restaurant s that celebrates the culture of New Orleans, hint, hint.

Just for starters, here are some locations until you can stop by Anderson’s to pick up the complete list.  Find the Grinch at  Dog Patch Pet & Feed, Ellman’s Music Center, Second Chance Retail,  Two Bostons (both locations),  Twisted Olive, Heaven on Seven, Quigley’s Irish Pub, Anderson’s Bookshop, Anderson’s Two Doors East, Couture Vision, Cowart Chiropractic, Gelati, Restyle, Ana Banana Kids, The Boxes, Dean’s Clothing, Naperville Running Company and O’Cie Floral.  Naperville Dog Magazine and Porter Presentations are participating, too.

Remember! You just need 16 Grinch slips to be in the grand drawing on Dec. 28 at Anderson’s Bookshop. The party begins at 2PM Fri., Dec. 28.

Thanks for reading. Thanks again for shopping, dining, banking and entertaining locally.

And even if you prefer to shop online, many Naperville businesses are ready to serve you online, too.

Shop locally online, too!

Minuteman Press and Blooming Color invite  individuals to visit www.dulynotedbyblooming.com to print and personalize  holiday greeting cards with ease.

Positively Naperville offers online sales of “One in a Million” Cock Robin  t-shirts. A portion of every sale goes to benefit Little Friends, Inc.

(Remember the Little Friends Parade of Lights begins at 4:30PM Sat.,  Dec. 1, in downtown Naperville.)

SO Studio Creative Wood Goods offers Shaker Oval Boxes,  “Made in Naperville” hand-crafted containers, perfect for a stash of gift cards.