Xzotic Aquatic World

[ostrow]

Found a new shop today. Saw the sign during construction and the strip mall is still not finished but somehow this place is open. 7021 N Milwaukee Ave in Niles.

The shop is small but clean. A few dead fish but I was there before opening and it is Monday so...

Super nice people. Opened the door for me well before store opening time. Nice selection of standard fish. I didn't see anything too unusual or...ahem....xzotic. But most fish seemed fat and healthy. Tanks very clean.

Two large coral tanks with some nice frags and colonies. And a few pricey clams. Some of the acros looked iffy but months and LPS looked solid.

I snagged a chalice frag and a very cool nudibranch.

Prices are low for Chicago area stores (except on the clams) and they claim to get unusual stiff in from "diverse" they work with. I have always been a little skeptical when I hear that but....

This is a nice, clean shop with friendly staff and good prices. And they keep supplies that will be handy in emergency like bulkheads and such.

 

[reef freek]

been in business for quite some time. they moved there over a year ago.

 

[ostrow]

They said they opened in April.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

They took over what used to be Global Aquatics out in Bensenville. You are right Ostrow, great prices for Chicago, but I've had pretty bad luck with their small fish, I'd say quality control isn't there yet.

They've been open for almost 2 years now but keep "rejuvenating" their brand and saying grand opening or we've just opened. I see a lot of younger staff than what Global used to be.

 

[ostrow]

This is on Milwaukee between Devon and Touhy. Not Bensenville. Guy said this is the only store. You sure we are talking about the same thing? This strip mall was a weed-filled empty lot two yrs ago.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

This is on Milwaukee between Devon and Touhy. Not Bensenville. Guy said this is the only store. You sure we are talking about the same thing? This strip mall was a weed-filled empty lot two yrs ago.

Yep, well aware I'm not too far from the current Niles location. The owner bought the Global Aquatics shop in bensenville, renamed it to Xzotic but there was something that went wrong in the business and that flopped out there as I still shopped there when it was rebranded. They moved to the current Niles location I'd say a little under 2 years ago but full operation has been recent. I was there for their soft opening and it's nothing like it is now. They've now ventured more into FW when it was primarily marine.

 

[fishyfish22]

Yep, well aware I'm not too far from the current Niles location. The owner bought the Global Aquatics shop in bensenville, renamed it to Xzotic but there was something that went wrong in the business and that flopped out there as I still shopped there when it was rebranded. They moved to the current Niles location I'd say a little under 2 years ago but full operation has been recent. I was there for their soft opening and it's nothing like it is now. They've now ventured more into FW when it was primarily marine.

wasn't the issue that they couldn't compete with the prices at underwater worldz which was right around the corner?

 

[Fish_wiz2]

wasn't the issue that they couldn't compete with the prices at underwater worldz which was right around the corner?

To be honest I don't know but I know one of the workers started underwater because Xzotic was sinking.

 

[ali1]

Francisco is now at underworld

 

[fishyfish22]

yep, Francisco was one of the people back from global, he was never with xzotic

 

[Sweeper13]

As a few mentioned.. Global was bought and changed names to Xzotic and moved to Bensenville on Supreme ave, then they moved to there present location in Niles. The 2 former employees from Global: Omar went on to work for Xzotic and then quit a while back before the move to Niles. Francisco never worked with Xzotic and went with Lisa to Underwater in Bensenville and are still there to this day.

 

[Jeff]

They have a pretty cool app with notifications. I've been there and found some cool things.

 

[ostrow]

Hi Jeff! Yeah. And it certainly hasn't switched over to FW in any way, shape or form. I think there are two small FW tanks both on one wall. All else is marine.

 

[Fish_wiz2]

As a few mentioned.. Global was bought and changed names to Xzotic and moved to Bensenville on Supreme ave, then they moved to there present location in Niles. The 2 former employees from Global: Omar went on to work for Xzotic and then quit a while back before the move to Niles. Francisco never worked with Xzotic and went with Lisa to Underwater in Bensenville and are still there to this day.

Yep, Omar is now with Reef Geeks in Northbrook. Miss those guys back when Global was still around.

Hi Jeff! Yeah. And it certainly hasn't switched over to FW in any way, shape or form. I think there are two small FW tanks both on one wall. All else is marine.

Koi are in the back as I recall, they're trying to increase variety I guess. I wouldn't touch their FW though after seeing some of their koi....