Where is Professional Tropicals when you need them? They had a great store for fresh, they never made the SW jump, Tropicals Unlimited which opened in the same spot never got off to a good start before they got into the SW. The location wasnt too great but the store worked. I want something to come along and shut down emporium's salt business... well hell the whole damn thing... nobody wants a mutt with bad hips. There are many great locations open, I just do not see much of a demand to keep things going. Wholesale would be a good option to pay bills, but doesnt seem to work for SW.
So I thought about opening a LFS...
- Thread starter xroads
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waverz
Slave to the reef!
I used to work for Dave Voss the original owner, he used to do pretty good but as soon as the internet started booming business started going downhill. Wholesale used to work because there were a lot of small shops around, it seems like there aren't very many of those anymore. You just can't compete with the big boys.
acidlittle
New member
Your right you can't compete with the big boys, so don't differentiate your store, get a new idea and go with it.
I would rather shop at a nice store then online anyday, and if the price is right, i think I'm not the only one...
I would rather shop at a nice store then online anyday, and if the price is right, i think I'm not the only one...
leeweber85
New member
You probably saw his post from 6 months ago that pretty much said the same thing. This thread is pretty old.
i was just in emporium today and they had about an 1.5in blue tang for $76 that was on its last leg(fin). I told the girl working about him, then she ask me what she should do it treat it.
I think their problem is they have to many young kids that dont know anything about saltwater. They really fell apart when they moved their store.
Also i was in Mason City on thusday and the store that started i think last spring was closed.
P.s. they just got a petco(Killco) too
I think their problem is they have to many young kids that dont know anything about saltwater. They really fell apart when they moved their store.
Also i was in Mason City on thusday and the store that started i think last spring was closed.
P.s. they just got a petco(Killco) too
Nanemene
New member
I lived in Waterloo for a while, and I don't remember Emporium Pets being *that* bad when it was on Laporte Rd. I wasn't into saltwater then, but I bought lots of freshwater fish there over the years. I also used them as my primary supplier for iguana supplies and bought my first cichlids there. I was in town visiting friends maybe a year ago, and went to visit and see about their saltwater section. I noticed they were gone, and on my way back through CF I saw that they had in fact moved. This new store doesn't remind me much of the old one except for the disgusting smell of dog crap due to their high volume of dog trading.
The new store is disgusting in so many ways. First, there is an old parrot with a "plucking" habit that they keep in a big cage near the counter. This parrot is nearly bald all around except for it's head, all due to the constant habit of pulling out it's feathers. It's skin is diseased and as a result, the whole area around this cage smells like rotting flesh. The store is unclean and full of merchandise that clearly passed it's prime selling time decades ago. Some of the ancient test kits they sell say things like "Calibrated using Electronic Computer technology," written in 1970s-era lettering. I've seen bottles of dosing chemicals that have sat on shelves so long the different ingredients have separated out inside the bottle. The store is full of junk that isn't even for sale, just apparently dropped where it was during the move and never picked up. This stuff just sits all around the store covered in salt creep and dried algae, further adding to the nasty smell in there. Their saltwater tanks are worse than Petco when it comes to hair algae and cyano, and everything is priced with totally random figures. Condy anemone...eh, $25. Blue damsel...eh, why not $9. Tiny frag that is just labeled "zoo"...let's go for $60.
As you can see, I am not impressed.
The new store is disgusting in so many ways. First, there is an old parrot with a "plucking" habit that they keep in a big cage near the counter. This parrot is nearly bald all around except for it's head, all due to the constant habit of pulling out it's feathers. It's skin is diseased and as a result, the whole area around this cage smells like rotting flesh. The store is unclean and full of merchandise that clearly passed it's prime selling time decades ago. Some of the ancient test kits they sell say things like "Calibrated using Electronic Computer technology," written in 1970s-era lettering. I've seen bottles of dosing chemicals that have sat on shelves so long the different ingredients have separated out inside the bottle. The store is full of junk that isn't even for sale, just apparently dropped where it was during the move and never picked up. This stuff just sits all around the store covered in salt creep and dried algae, further adding to the nasty smell in there. Their saltwater tanks are worse than Petco when it comes to hair algae and cyano, and everything is priced with totally random figures. Condy anemone...eh, $25. Blue damsel...eh, why not $9. Tiny frag that is just labeled "zoo"...let's go for $60.
As you can see, I am not impressed.
Nanemene
New member
Look, I said I thought the place was disgusting. That didn't give you license to go do this:
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/10/11/news/metro/cc55d0ec067523a78625737100497721.txt
http://www.wcfcourier.com/articles/2007/10/11/news/metro/cc55d0ec067523a78625737100497721.txt
got2lb
New member
They should change that story to the animals were RESCUED not stolen!
About a year ago someone was stealing SW fish from them too. I think Craig posted about it. They were taking the big buddy cups from kwik star in there and scooping out the fish and putting them in the cups and out the door they went.
About a year ago someone was stealing SW fish from them too. I think Craig posted about it. They were taking the big buddy cups from kwik star in there and scooping out the fish and putting them in the cups and out the door they went.
Nanemene
New member
Wrong but very good for the fish. I was in there not long ago and saw a cat with a clear case of parkinson's disease (or some similar neurological problem) thrashing around all over the place in a very grotesque fashion. I get the impression that Emporium thinks that it is some how compassionate to "take in" animals who should be put down for health reasons. That parrot I described above literally needs a needle, and fast.
Atticus
New member
That parrot is showing signs of stress from being relocated and placed in a high traffic area. They should remove it to a quiet place and feed it some high quality foods. I can just see it with a tiny version of the doggy lamp shade (used so dogs don't pick at stitches) around its neck....
Nanemene
New member
The first time I saw it, I was so shocked (it is so gross looking it startles you at first) that I asked about it. The employee told me it had been with the store for like 8 years and hadn't had feathers in like 6 or 7 years. I suppose if I lived in that rathole of a store, I'd pluck all my feathers out too.
glaspie69
Premium Member
Although I don't agree with much the emporium does it would be appreciated if we could keep this topic civil, whether a store handles its business in a good or bad fashion its never a respectable thing to bash them without there knowledge. Rude comments and lectures on what they "could" or "should" do need to stay off this forum. It makes the members and the club look disrespectful and will not be tolerated. thanks j
heartben
New member
i wish we did have a new lfs. i go to emporium alot to check to see if anyone brought in any cool corals...usually...no..
one time this dude brought in a bunch of rocks coverd in amazing xenia and i think maybe some mushrooms but im not sure, i dont remember...
i wanted some of that xenia so bad... woowee...
anyways, i think some of that stuff is sort of harsh... i would love to work there and help clean and maintain stuff but i dont know very much yet... id really really like to work at a petstore (so if any of you do open one, im going to beg you for a job :-D)
woo!
one time this dude brought in a bunch of rocks coverd in amazing xenia and i think maybe some mushrooms but im not sure, i dont remember...
i wanted some of that xenia so bad... woowee...
anyways, i think some of that stuff is sort of harsh... i would love to work there and help clean and maintain stuff but i dont know very much yet... id really really like to work at a petstore (so if any of you do open one, im going to beg you for a job :-D)
woo!
