Business notebook: Tropical-fish hobby turns into a store

Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the address of Go Fish! Tropical.

Not long ago, Catherine and Rodney Stovall bought their daughter a fish tank -- a nicely stocked, 55-gallon tank. Over the months that followed, the number of tanks and fish the family had in their home grew until Catherine Stovall finally announced, "That's it; we're opening a store."

Just a few months later, Go Fish! Tropical opened its doors, offering a variety of fish not normally seen in the region, as well as the necessary accouterments.

But it's not a pet store, Catherine Stovall said. It's a hobby shop.

"Pet stores want to sell you products," Stovall said. "We want to teach you how to care for your pets."

Fish swim around in a tank at Go Fish! Tropical in Cape Girardeau on Thursday.Laura Simon

Stovall and her family have the knowledge to impart to their customers. The Stovalls come from a line of exotic-pet aficionados, dating to Rodney Stovall's grandparents, who owned A&S Tropical on Broadway, a long-standing exotic pet store.

While A&S carried a variety of pets, from fish to reptiles to birds, Catherine Stovall said she is content focusing on fish -- and maybe a few snails and crabs.

"We specialize in the big and unusual," Stovall said.

The store, which is located at 5 S. Henderson Ave. in Cape Girardeau, carries more traditional aquatic life, such as betta fish and what Stovall refers to as "cutesy stuff." But she said her focus is on the unique.

"If you can't find it anywhere else, you're probably going to find it here," she said, "and if not, I'll get it."

Albino African clawed frogs and jelly bean parrot fish hang out in the corner of a tank at Go Fish! Tropical in Cape Girardeau on Thursday.Laura Simon

The tanks are a constant work in progress. New fish come in weekly. Different ecosystems are created, and new fish are introduced into them. The store has dozens of saltwater and freshwater tanks, plus brackish and blackwater tanks.

"That's not something you'll see a lot," Stovall said. "Our goal with this is to show people that you can do these tanks and have a big variety of tropical fish in them, and they can still look good."

It's clear the Stovalls are knowledgeable about their craft and devoted to the animals they offer. Catherine Stovall pointed out two iridescent sharks in a massive tank behind the counter. One she calls Hoover because of his fast and aggressive eating style.

The other, she said, is Einstein.

"He's kind of stupid," she said affectionately.

Stovall stressed her family's desire to create responsible pet owners. The store's mascot, a flowerhorn cichlid named Ripper, is the store's teaching tool. Cichlids are some of the most colorful and popular freshwater fish, with easy-to-set-up tanks, she said, but the fish grow to sizes with which many people aren't prepared to deal. The fish quickly outgrow their tanks which need weekly cleanings, and their feedings can cost $30 to $50 per month.

"It's basically like owning a puppy," she said, as she prompted Ripper to come to the front of his tank and gave him a pat on the head.

Go Fish! Tropical offers new and used equipment. They've bought out several old pet stores to provide lower-priced goods.

"That way, we can provide customers with cheaper product. The less you spend on your equipment, the more you can spend on our fish," Stovall said.

The store accepts trade-ins of equipment and fish.

"People bring in fish that outgrow their aquarium, and we'll give them smaller ones," Stovall said, though she'd like to see her customers paired with the right size fish the first time.

Catherine Stovall can be found at the store on any given operating day, Her husband, 18-year-old son who spent his formative years in their old pet store and 11-year-old daughter -- the one responsible for sparking the family's renewed interest in the hobby -- all work there at other times, caring for the puffer fish, eels, sharks and starfish.

"It's a big old family affair," Stovall said.

Cape Area Career Fair set for Oct. 27

The Missouri Job Center is hosting the Cape Area Career Fair from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 27 at the Osage Center.

Representatives from a variety of area businesses will be interviewing prospective employees.

Attendees are encouraged to dress professionally and arrive without distractions and with multiple copies of their resumes so proper interviews may be conducted.

On-the-spot hiring is a possibility.

Journeys shoe store closed for remodeling

Journeys is undergoing a remodel. The shoe store in West Park Mall is closed as renovations are completed.

According to the store's Facebook page, it is expected to reopen Sunday.

Theresa Taylor

Microsoft Office certification earned

Theresa Taylor recently earned her Microsoft Office Specialist certification, which includes the programs Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access.

Taylor is a business teacher at Cape Girardeau Central High School, where she has taught for 15 years.

Business licenses

• Bushwacker Beverage Co. is a home-based contract brewery owned by Matt E. Busch. The business is expected to begin operations in December.
• Dexter Queen, 1027 Broadway, is a fast-casual barbecue and ice cream restaurant owned by Lori Hawkins. The business was bought from Sam Alsmadi, who operated it as Mediterranean on Broadway. The anticipated opening date is Nov. 1.

bbrown@semissourian.com (573) 388-3630