Aquarium & Pet Shop, Inc, 1701 Rockland Road: 2000s 7 comments
Well, this wasn't what I was expecting to find when I took a look at the old Aquarium & Pet Shop, Incorporated site. This place is on a little side street of Bush River Road, just past Fuddruckers by the Radison and the Bush River Road, I-20 Southbound interchange. I would see it out of the corner of my eye for years as I would get on the highway there, but since I don't have any pets, I didn't really pay any attention.
I did notice when the sign came down though. I would say that was probably around 2005 or so, and I kind of wondered what would go into that spot.
When I was eating at Fuddruckers last Saturday, I decided to walk up and look at the place, expecting to find an empty building. Instead, the place appears to be jam-packed with stuff, and is plainly still under at least semi-regular care by people running the pet store. In fact, given all the paraphernalia I could see from the parking lot, I wondered for a minute if I were wrong about the place being closed, but walking up to the door cleared that up. I'm not sure what the story here is, though I hope it is not a sad one.
7 Responses to 'Aquarium & Pet Shop, Inc, 1701 Rockland Road: 2000s'
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Dennis
1 Sep 09 at 3:03 am
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This was one the best pet stores ever in Columbia. It was run by a man name Will was a fixture in the pet store business in the Midlands for 30 years. They didnt carry cats and dog but had a variety of other small animals as well as salt and fresh water fish and reptiles. It was a no frills store, but the staff knew their stuff and had quality animals.
It caught fire in November of 2006 and never re-opened. I shopped there as kid and took my kids to it. I miss it. -
Yeah, I used to work for Will when I was a kid and his store was over by Whitehall in the 70's and early 80's. Anyone know what Will (Kissam) is up to?
Sean Lally
Sean
3 Mar 10 at 3:16 pm
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These spam entries always amaze me with the warped language some of them use......if someone were to speak in sentences like they use they'd be hauled away to the the looney bin. Or they're using Google translate.....
Mike
17 Apr 11 at 8:03 am
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Will was a good friend to our family since we started with tropical fish in 1978. I used to ride my bike to see him at Whitehall and get aquarium/fish advice. We miss you Will!
HOORAYE
10 Jul 11 at 11:33 pm
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I shopped there a lot in the early 90s. Will and his staff were very knowledgable about fish. Downstairs had an interesting smell between the aquariums and the "mouse room" in the back set up specifically to cater to the snake owners who bought them to feed to their pets. Will used to call them "mouse burgers" and actually sold them in little white styrofoam burger clamshell containers.
Heath
30 Apr 12 at 10:08 pm
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Does anybody know where I can find or how to contact via telephone Mr. William Kissam?
My Cell: (352) 208-5045
Cich In The Head
8 Aug 20 at 2:22 pm
When first built many years ago this building was a terrific deli. Cannot remember the name, tho.