A pair of Southeast Missouri business owners have branched out into the pet care service. They opened a Pet Supplies Plus pet store May 23 at 209 S. Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau.
Robert Wade runs the store with his wife, Maria. The couple are no strangers to owning a business, as they have operated Pacific Rim Market at 1537 Independence St. for 17 years. A pet store, however, is a whole different animal.
“It’s been a real learning experience. It has helped us learn a lot more about retail in general when you get to this size of a business,” Robert Wade said.
He first heard about the business while paired with a franchisee from Texas during a fishing tournament in Alabama. He researched Pet Supplies Plus, discussed the idea with his wife, and they acquired a franchise of their own.
“Just about anything people want to get into, as far as animals and habitats, we can take care of that for them,” Wade said.
In addition to food, toys, supplies and habitats, the store also sells several live animals. Fish, birds, lizards, snakes, ferrets, hamsters, guinea pigs and spiders are among the menagerie for people to take home.
According to Wade, the reptiles were the most difficult to learn how to take care of.
“You have temperatures you have to maintain and humidity you have to maintain,” he said.
