Over the last 5 yrs or so almost half of my favorite LFSs have gone out of business or left town. Is it just the economy? Is this happening everywhere? It wouldn't be so bad if it was the scrub places closing shop, but it has been the two best and another good one that have closed. Now my best local option is a place I used to go to only in emergencies. Happen to you?
Downfall of the LFS?
- Thread starter lujor
- Start date
I've seen some smaller shops that kept oddball fish shut down. Those were my favorites. All the big ones by me are still open though.
i have not seen any close down by me. actually wish some would since they are crap and would never buy anything from them unless that is the only place i could get them. I was hoping to open my own in a year or 2 and sell the odd balls but we will see how the economy goes.
No this has not happened but I wish it happened to the Crap stores that tell people a RES is a South American Land Turtle and rip them off...Or say that a RES can winter over in a pond in the Mountain West 
or....Well Yeah one of my Favorite LFS is expanding which is great because they are Awesome
or....Well Yeah one of my Favorite LFS is expanding which is great because they are AwesomeThis has been the case in this city.There used to be good stores throughout this town but most of them have closed down.We have had a few independent stores open up that are worth a visit but the really good places are out of the city limit.
In my area, it's just the fact that there aren't enough hobbyists to support anything other than the big box stores.
yeah we lost a little hole in the wall lfs that always carried oddballs and a wide variety of predatory fish, they didnt carry any peaceful community fish at all which in hind sight is probably why they are no longer in business- owner said he couldnt keep up with electric bill
I haven't been fishkeeping that long(overstock goldfish as a kid does not count), but the only store I've found with some oddballs is actually a chain store called Petland Discounts. I've seen exodons, leopard ctenopoma, uaru, juruparis...even senegal bichirs are hard to find for me ._.
It's a combination of the poor economy and competition from the corporate stores such as Petco, Petsmart, Petland and others.
Also, for the casual businessman, turning a profit on fish sales is quite the trick. The ones that stay open usually sell puppies on the side or are financed by wealthy hobbyists.