By By MARCIA STEFFENS / Cassopolis Vigilant
CASSOPOLIS - The hermit crabs weren't the only things hopping at the new One Stop Pet Shop at 814 E. State St., Cassopolis, across from Mid West Energy. While shipments of mice and fish were being delivered, customers kept coming in through the door proclaiming how happy they were to have a pet store in Cassopolis.
Owner Dave Flora was talked into coming back to the area after having a successful pet store for many years in Alabama. His daughter Tracie Irwin said he might as well open one in Cassopolis and be closer to his granddaughter Nicole, 9.
Tracie and her husband Don live on O'Keefe Street, just north of the fairgrounds.
The two could hardly open their boxes with the traffic of customers. Their first shipment of hermit crabs, painted with NASCAR numbers, Mickey Mouse faces and other cute designs, sold out the first day.
The store has a special area set up for kids as a place to play with a video running - an idea Nicole contributed.
As they get settled they plan on expanding the number of fish and offer other services such as a place people can come and wash their dog, without the mess at home.
Flora does nails and clips wings. They have reptiles, including snakes, rodents, fish and supplies, such as habitats and food.
They are open weekdays from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m., except Tuesday 2 to 8, Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and Sunday 2-6 p.m.