Fish Store Location
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Raamiah
Well-known member
I vote Shelton! There are no fish stores here other than Walmart. 
I would love to see a really good store go up in Olympia but if you did Tacoma/Puyallup I would make the trip over.
I would love to see a really good store go up in Olympia but if you did Tacoma/Puyallup I would make the trip over.I vote for the Northend, Snohomish County area. Probably the best bet would be Everett area as you're far enough from the competition to do a good amount of business.
Renton has an awesome reef specialty store which is close to Auburn, Kent and the others in the south. It is also a short drive from the eastside.
Issaquah also has a saltwater specialty store.
Bellevue fwiw has a saltwater speciaty store too.
Shoreline has a very nice store and is near people in the South Snohomish county and North King county area.
Kirkland has an adequate saltwater store too.
Keep your options open and make sure you check your competition out in what ever area you choose. This business is very dependant on customers. If word gets out that you're not the greatest place to go and shop with among other things... Well you probably know what can happen. Good pricing, clean store and good lighting are a few key elements.
FWIW, I was able to check out a few of the saltwater specialty stores this month in Oregon and Vacouver Washington area. None of the stores I visited on my trip where anything to write home about.
Cheers,
Alex
Renton has an awesome reef specialty store which is close to Auburn, Kent and the others in the south. It is also a short drive from the eastside.
Issaquah also has a saltwater specialty store.
Bellevue fwiw has a saltwater speciaty store too.
Shoreline has a very nice store and is near people in the South Snohomish county and North King county area.
Kirkland has an adequate saltwater store too.
Keep your options open and make sure you check your competition out in what ever area you choose. This business is very dependant on customers. If word gets out that you're not the greatest place to go and shop with among other things... Well you probably know what can happen. Good pricing, clean store and good lighting are a few key elements.
FWIW, I was able to check out a few of the saltwater specialty stores this month in Oregon and Vacouver Washington area. None of the stores I visited on my trip where anything to write home about.
Cheers,
Alex
1guydude
Well-known member
theres stores here e.g. wild side, tropical fish world, and aquarium paradise but all those stores dont seem to be dedicated to just sw and are more so just pet stores imo rather than an actual lfs.
-d
-d
Peppie
Well-known member
BOB,
So I have to ask, What will set your store apart from the other? Why will I come to your store for my saltwater needs? Are you going to offer anything special?
So I have to ask, What will set your store apart from the other? Why will I come to your store for my saltwater needs? Are you going to offer anything special?
Bosco83
Well-known member
I would be willing to bet that if you didn't get far enough away from the competition people will just keep going to the places they know. Everyone in the Auburn area is within 20 minutes of barrier reef, Blue Sierra, and about 30 minutes from Saltwater City. People in the Everett or farther north have to drive 40 minutes to the closest fish store in Shoreline and even further to get to Barrier and the others. If your within 30 minutes of all these stores you would have to have a pretty special store to beat them. Barrier is one of the only local saltwater stores that can afford to have an actual knowledgeable crew. What that means is they are open consistent hours, have great looking clean tanks with good stock, and competitive prices. A lot of people like Saltwater City because they are the only store to keep all of their fish in a large qt tank for two weeks before they will even sell them. At Red C Aquarium the owner is a really nice guy and probably the most patient he will explain anything about the hobby to anyone. When I was new to the hobby he would always answer all my question without making me feel stupid. The other thing I always liked about him is anytime someone is interested in a fish he would feed them for you without having to ask!!!! He's like the magic man getting fish to eat lol. I always hate asking if someone will feed the fish for me half the stores they kinda just say oh they eat and almost seem put off if you insist they show you it's just awkward. That's my argument for the northenders like me
I would be willing to bet that if you didn't get far enough away from the competition people will just keep going to the places they know. Everyone in the Auburn area is within 20 minutes of barrier reef, Blue Sierra, and about 30 minutes from Saltwater City. People in the Everett or farther north have to drive 40 minutes to the closest fish store in Shoreline and even further to get to Barrier and the others. If your within 30 minutes of all these stores you would have to have a pretty special store to beat them. Barrier is one of the only local saltwater stores that can afford to have an actual knowledgeable crew. What that means is they are open consistent hours, have great looking clean tanks with good stock, and competitive prices. A lot of people like Saltwater City because they are the only store to keep all of their fish in a large qt tank for two weeks before they will even sell them. At Red C Aquarium the owner is a really nice guy and probably the most patient he will explain anything about the hobby to anyone. When I was new to the hobby he would always answer all my question without making me feel stupid. The other thing I always liked about him is anytime someone is interested in a fish he would feed them for you without having to ask!!!! He's like the magic man getting fish to eat lol. I always hate asking if someone will feed the fish for me half the stores they kinda just say oh they eat and almost seem put off if you insist they show you it's just awkward. That's my argument for the northenders like me
I think you hit all the high points right on. Great reasons for the Northend or somewhere not within a 20-30 minute drive or less from any specialty saltwater store.
Cheers,
Alex
Kickwrasse
Well-known member
Everett needs a store LFS bad
I think the auburn or Federal way area would be great..20 min from Tacoma,20 min from Seattle..a good middle
rukis
Banned
I think Everett is best bet, also, I personally won't drive past Rob @ red c if I was to take a trip south, Rob is amazing, and the trust is already there.. and that is an easy 20 min drive from everett there. and there are already a few stores down south, but only 1 up north.. with business in mind I would go where the store is needed not closer to all the competition because these stores already have a strong customer base.
Just my 2 cents
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Just my 2 cents
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Jozee
~ Hooked ~><( ( ( °>
Well, Renton has 2 - Issaquah has 1, Kirkland has 1 in my area... Federal Way there's a small selection in the Petco. I think Tacoma has a few in their area.
DTECH07
M.I.A
Business front (building) and insurance cheaper in the Tacoma/Puyallup area plus easy access off I5/hw16/512, Tacoma is the central location for large volum business and hobbiest. My two cents worth .
.subsailor07
Member
What are the name of the stores in Tacoma?
DTECH07
M.I.A
Petco, Aquarium Paradise, indoor Reef(from his home), Wild Side. That's it. Our selection is few and prices for the what you get and the condition of some of the locations is robbery IHO. A fresh well stocked store that is clean and with fair pricing could become the BEST saltwater store around. Barrier Reef is a good example on how we drive out of way (way out for some) for better quality and more varieties of fish, corals, and dry goods.
bradreef
always kidding
I am not living there now but I would vote north side, bothel(people would drive from everett), I like the idea of tacoma or even Federal way but The money is in bellevue or redmond. Saltwater city is small but does well with maintanence.
If I had to open a store for maintanence and fish sales I would try and find a good lease space around Redmond. There are plenty of business customers who you could service and supply. Flat out there is more money in that area overall(there are some nice area's other places) You would be close to bellevue, medina, sammamish, kirkland, newcastle, ect.
This is all my opinion having lived there and going to all of the fish stores for many years.
If I had to open a store for maintanence and fish sales I would try and find a good lease space around Redmond. There are plenty of business customers who you could service and supply. Flat out there is more money in that area overall(there are some nice area's other places) You would be close to bellevue, medina, sammamish, kirkland, newcastle, ect.
This is all my opinion having lived there and going to all of the fish stores for many years.
1guydude
Well-known member
+1 $ is in bellevue and such...
Terrance
Well-known member
Bellevue, Tacoma, or Everette.
I heard Pet-Pourri in Everette closed down.
Bellevue only have 1 (maybe 2) LFS.
I heard Pet-Pourri in Everette closed down.
Bellevue only have 1 (maybe 2) LFS.
rukis
Banned
Pet-pourri in Everett did close about a month ago, they had 80% off everything even display tanks...
DTECH07
M.I.A
As said before quality over all will be successful in this day and time. Start up cost will be much lower in the south end and while there's seems to be more money in the Bellevue, Kirkland, evertt, areas your overhead is incredibly high especially if your On PSE and with building codes. Your startup, and reoccurring monthly overhead will be greatly lower in the south end and if this then can allow for better equipped store with high end products at a lower cost to the consumer.
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