SAFETY HARBOR, FLA -- It's the Grinch! And this year he's spreading holiday cheer in Safety Harbor. The green grump, known for stealing Christmas, is serving cheesecake at Bassano Cheesecake on the weekends.

“I worked the counter for a little while and then they promoted me to greeting the customers at the door," said the Grinch. 

He doesn't want to steal Christmas. Instead he wants to make people smile by giving out onions and serving hairy cheesecake.

“That’s a New York cheesecake with a little grinch flair to it. Flair, hair, same thing," said the Grinch. 

Cindy Bassano hired the Grinch for the holiday season.

"His heart’s grown quite a bit in the last few weeks," said Bassano. She went on to say, “We just wanted to make people happy this year. With everything going on with covid, just to give people a little bit of laughter and all the little kids, everybody loves the Grinch so we just thought it would be a good idea.”

Bassano opened the cafe on Main Street in June. Prior to that, the company sold the cheesecakes online. They still ship them across the country.

You can find the Grinch working at the shop Thursday through Saturday 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. But you'll want to keep an eye out anytime you're in downtown Safety Harbor because you never know when you might spot the Holiday Cheermieister.