Ed’s Pet World celebrates 50 years of community, legacy and retirement plans – Mitchell Republic

MITCHELL — For 50 years, Ed’s Pet World has been a go-to spot for families looking to bring home a new pet, and owner Ed Anderson wouldn’t have it any other way.

Since opening in 1975, the Mitchell pet store has welcomed generations of customers, offering everything from fish and birds to puppies and reptiles. Anderson, who was just 21 when he opened the store, has spent decades building a business known for its friendly atmosphere and personal connections with customers.

“I tell people I never had any backing, no rich parents, nothing. I just knew this was what I wanted to do,” Anderson said.

His love for the pet industry started when he was in high school, working at a small aquarium shop in town. Though the shop went bankrupt after only eight months, it was enough time for Anderson to realize he had found his passion.

Determined to open his own store, Anderson faced difficulty securing a loan — until his Sunday school teacher, Herman Lerdal, who was president of a bank, took a chance on him. With his sister co-signing, Anderson secured a $10,000 loan, launching what would become a staple of Mitchell’s Main Street.

Anderson and his wife, Eileen, built the store from the ground up, introducing Mitchell’s first full-line pet shop with professional dog grooming, more than 60 aquariums of fish, and a variety of small critters, reptiles and birds.

What set Ed’s Pet World apart in the early years, Anderson said, was its welcoming atmosphere.

“We weren’t a store that just said hello and thank you. We always made conversation with the customers,” he said.

That approach helped the store outlast early competition from Woolworth, Newberry and other shops selling pets. Anderson also recalls a fun coincidence — there was once another Ed’s Pet World in Alabama, though that location is no longer in business and Anderson was never affiliated with it. According to Anderson, he used to get calls from people who were trying to reach the Alabama store.

Over the years, Ed’s Pet World has gained a loyal following, with families returning generation after generation.

“I’ve had customers come in and tell me, ‘You sold me my first puppy when I was a kid,’ and now they’re coming in with their own kids,” Anderson said. “I’d say we’re on our third or fourth generation of customers.”

Longtime customer Debra Emme recalls bringing home five pets from Ed’s, including a papillon puppy just before Christmas one year.

“They stayed open so we could welcome our second fur baby into our family and made it so that pup didn’t have to spend Christmas alone in the pet store,” Emme said. “Needless to say, that was a nice Christmas present that year.”

Others remember the store’s unique resident pets, like Iggy the iguana, Arnold the potbellied pig and Josh the capuchin monkey, who became a well-known attraction for 25 years.

After five decades of running the store, Anderson has decided to retire. While he put the store up for sale last year, he’s in no rush to walk away. He wants to find the right buyer, someone who will continue the legacy of Ed’s Pet World.

“It’s a turn-key opportunity,” he said, explaining that all equipment will stay with the store, and he’s confident that his loyal employees, some of whom have been with him for years, will remain in place to ensure a smooth transition.

“I’ve gone to work every day and done the same thing day after day. It will be hard when that day comes,” Anderson said. “But at the same time, I think I deserve some rest and some vacation time.”

He credits his employees for keeping the store running smoothly, noting that one has been with him for 20 years, another for seven and another for three.

“I tell people the store is on autopilot when I’m gone,” he said. “They know exactly what to do.”

For now, Anderson remains focused on serving customers the same way he has for five decades — by helping them find the perfect pet and making sure they leave with a smile.

Jennifer Leither joined the Mitchell Republic in April 2024. She was raised in Sioux Falls, S.D. where she attended Lincoln High School. She continued her education at South Dakota State University, graduating in December 2000 with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. During her time in college, Leither worked as a reporter for the campus newpaper, The Collegian. She also interned for Anderson Publications in Canistota, SD the summer of 2000. Upon graduation, Leither continued to reside in the Sioux Falls area and worked as a freelance writer for the Argus Leader for a number of years.
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