Another big LFS closing in ATL

[JennM]

I'm surprised this hasn't been posted here yet.

I've heard/read from several sources that The Fish Store & More, one of Atlanta's oldest and arguably the largest LFS is closing its doors.

There's a lengthy bickering match on the Atlanta Reef Club's forums - most of which is NOT about FS&M...

I'm sad to see it go. My heart goes out to the owners, Gary and Diane, whom I've met a few times - they are nice folks, and it's a shame to see one of the big players close its doors.

Lots of people are speculating about the whys and wherefores - I don't know what the *real* reason(s) is/are, just that it is a loss to hobbyists and industry types alike. It's a big store, with well over 15,000 customers, and it's been around for at *least* 17 years that I know of (I have only lived here 7...)

On that thread full of rubbish on the ARC site, there's lots of malarky about how other LFS in the area are happy to see them go, or not happy to see them go - or whatever. Personally I think seeing one of the long-timers cease to be is a loss no matter how you slice it, and to be mourned.

This area has seen a lot of LFS either change hands (some more than once) in the last 5 years or so, and others have gone out of business completely.

I don't think that etail can take "all the credit" for this - I think the face of the hobby is changing. With the economy such as it is - we're seeing it all through different industries - sub-prime mortgage woes, slow housing sales, high prices of gas and other commodities, I think that many people just don't have the money (or the time?) for certain luxuries anymore, and aquarium keeping is one of those things.

I talk to people in many lines of work - even some in businesses that are more *necessary* to peoples' daily lives are noticing that people just aren't spending like they used to.

Times are changing, that's for sure.

Jenn

 

[brandonberry]

Man, I hate to hear that. I've been to that store twice while visiting family in Atlanta. It was a really cool store. I always loved that big cylindrical tank they had.

 

[JennM]

Yep, it's a loss to the city, for sure.

When something like this happens, we all lose.

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

 

[JennM]

Actually word is they are going to open again in December(?) in a new location as yet to be disclosed.

Moving a store is a huge endeavour - I wish Gary and Diane the best.

Jenn

 

[JennM]

BTW ... HI GLENN!

Jenn

 

[Anonymous]

I don't think that etail can take "all the credit" for this - I think the face of the hobby is changing. With the economy such as it is - we're seeing it all through different industries - sub-prime mortgage woes, slow housing sales, high prices of gas and other commodities, I think that many people just don't have the money (or the time?) for certain luxuries anymore, and aquarium keeping is one of those things.

I talk to people in many lines of work - even some in businesses that are more *necessary* to peoples' daily lives are noticing that people just aren't spending like they used to.

Times are changing, that's for sure.

Like many industries, this one isn't recession-proof.

But the economy will swing upwards again. It always does.

 

[bleedingthought]

I was about to say, I didn't think it was closing - just moving.

BTW, Jen, did you catch all of the fluff that happened over at the ARC site the other day that brought your name up? Pretty lame and I was about to start a thread on how Imagine Ocean is still my favorite LFS... Still debating if it's worth stirring the pot again, though.

 

[JennM]

Yeah I was aware of it. Don't bother stirring the pot - it's over with. Someone was upset that I made an example of what they'd said. Wasn't personal - I was trying to illustrate a point, and somebody there just happened to say exactly what I was trying to show, and I happened to stumble on it. I could have stumbled on a myriad of other posts on other boards that illustrated the same point - I happened to pick that one. I think Jeff got chewed out too In fact I think he got chewed out over here.

No worries. Besides, if my skin was that thin, I shouldn't be posting on *any* board. I don't take that stuff personally.

I do hope that FS&M gets back on its feet... moving a shop is a formidable task.

Jenn

 

[bleedingthought]

I do hope that FS&M gets back on its feet... moving a shop is a formidable task.

Jenn

I wouldn't really know but I can imagine. Moving livestock from a 75G reef tank to a 210G has been a great deal of work so far so multiplying that many times over can turn it into chaos, probably.

I believe the got rid of all, or at least almost all of their livestock before that location closed down, though. Should make things at least a little easier.

 

[JennM]

Indeed... but having moved a store with and without livestock... either task is a major endeavour!

Jenn

 

[Kalkbreath]

Odd thing is that they told all the employees that they were closing.
And that they needed to get other jobs.
Many of the employees had been with the store for ten plus years.
Thats not something you do in a "Normal relocation".

 

[bleedingthought]

Odd thing is that they told all the employees that they were closing.
And that they needed to get other jobs.
Many of the employees had been with the store for ten plus years.
Thats not something you do in a "Normal relocation".

Hmm, didn't know that. I knew that 2 employees were told that.

That is odd. :?

 

[JennM]

Well Porter announced in the discussion on the ARC thread about it, that he was moving to Petland ... the one in Dunwoody I think. He was with the store for over 10 years, and IMO one of their better resources. He's very accomplished in his knowledge of inverts, and he's even been successful at breeding Peppermint shrimp, and more recently, seahorses.

If the "store" loses Porter, they lose quite an asset, IMO - and that will be Petland's gain.

There's a lot of stuff circulating around that I've heard. I don't really repeat any of it because the vast majority is hearsay. I only posted about it here because a hobbyist/customer of FS&M posted on the ARC forums that the store was closing, and Porter chimed in on his own - being an employee there, I took that as truth. Then the story changed after the fact.

Odd.

Jenn

 

[JennM]

Here's the original thread if anyone's interested... it turned into a peeing match and got locked but most of the first few posts are relevant.

Porter posts as Aquazoa.

http://www.atlantareefclub.org/forums/s ... php?t=8280

From page 3 of the thread:

Aquazoa Wrote:

Hello Fellow ARC Members,
As the longest term employee of the store for over 10 years I would like to say thanks to Bobby of CBA, Don Kingore of Premier Aquatics and Marine Fish and Roland Jacques of the Wild Side for all your kind words regarding our store. A number of factors have contributed to this event including particularly the fact that this area of Buckhead is being redeveloped and the owners of the property have used legal devices to annul the operation of the business due to difficulties with the suffocating rent of this place.
Having worked here at The Fish Store since 1997 I have had the privilege of knowing some of the most knowledgeable people in the aquarium hobby and have made a name for myself in rearing Lysmata shrimp and seahorses. This establishment has enriched my hobby (and gave meaning to my life) in ways that cannot be quantified.
I will be calling the Petland in Dunwoody my new home where I have recently been hired and would welcome anyone to come see me there where I will be contributing my skills for their marine dept. I am really looking forward to being a part of the staff at that Petland (located in Perimeter Village Shopping Center near Perimeter Mall).

Porter Betts (Invertebrate Director, Fish Store and More)

Jenn

 

[just dave]

There is another store that is in the Atlanta area that will be closing soon. He plans to be out around December.

 

[JennM]

Hmmm. I heard of another too, that's closing (now?)... owner owns 2 stores, they are consolidating into one.

Jenn

 

[just dave]

It's not that one.

 

[bleedingthought]

So, how many has it been in the past 2-3 years? :roll:

I imagine you can probably name more than me, Jenn.

 

[bleedingthought]

There is another store that is in the Atlanta area that will be closing soon. He plans to be out around December.

Which one? Is it for sure or they're having hard times?



P.S. Poseidon's Reef (Art's store) is moving also...