Hi Folks,
I hope I am not violating any RC rules and regulations by posting in this thread. If I am please do edit/delete anything necessary so that I am conforming to posted rules and regulations.
I would like to first and foremost introduce myself, Allen and confirm that my Girlfriend (Jackie) and I are the new owners of the local aquatic store located on Beach Blvd. and Lampson Ave. on the corner of the Sam's Club shopping center. The store was previously an all out freshwater aquatic store only. We will be converting the old system into a 70/30 saltwater reefs/fish and freshwater store. For those that have been by please excuse the dust because we are still in construction phase right now.
We acquired the store approx. about a month ago and have been working mostly night-time shifts and weekends to get the saltwater system up and running. So far we have been able to get the saltwater fish isle up, running, and going through the cycling stage...WOO HOO!!! We are now working on the saltwater corals section and that row is approx. two weeks behind the fish only row. The stores front retail area will be fully revamped to house exotic SPS/LPS displays. We will be carrying a fully line of dry goods also.
A little bit about me....and why I decided to get into the aquatic industry....
I graduated college in 03' with a B.S. in Computer Science and was recruited straight from school into The Boeing Company located at Huntington Beach working as a Software/EE Engineer. During 6 months at my job it was great! Not up until 6 months afterwards there was a program cutback and I was forced to look for a new job. I found a new job within the company and was hired onto the Delta Rocket program. It was a great position and the pay was decently well also. Up until May of 2005, when the company announced that they are forming a new company with rival Lockheed Martin's Atlas Rocket Program to form United Launch Alliance. Due to the formation of ULA, all Boeing employees that support the Delta Rockets are to be "frozen" and not have access to look for another position within the company. ULA's engineering facilities was going to be located in Denver, CO. and all Delta Employees were to be relocated. This was not an option for me! The second thing that happened that push me over the top and made me decided to come out and work for myself was when The Delta Program announce that they are going to have a 6 percent cutback. Approx. 200 jobs will be let go while their employees are still frozen.
Getting back on track.....The store is going to be renamed and called "Eye Candy Aquariums." The hours that I will be there follow as: Monday - Friday 11:30AM to 12:30PM and 4:00PM to closing, Saturdays 11:00AM - 7:00PM, and Sundays 11:00AM to 6:00PM.
Please do stop by and say "hi" my father is helping me run the store on the off-hours that I have to report back to my job at Boeing right now. If you catch him there, please don't give him a hard time because his English skills and aquatic knowledge are not up to par yet. All the rest of the times that I am there, do come by and chat....
Thank You,
Allen H.
Eye Candy Aquariums
P.S. Apologies for the long post and I would like to take this time to recognize and send our deepest gratitude to a few Reef Central and life long friends.
Kevin L. AKA Raskal311
Daniel N. AKA NVTE
These guys have helped us built and continue to volunteer their time, efforts, and knowledge. We owe you guys a lot!
