Struggling economy forces local pet store to close its doors

by Sarah Rice (srice@wsbt.com)

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George Blake gives a hug and kiss to

George Blake gives a hug and kiss to "Phat Girl". George helps run Ewert's Pet Store in Niles, which is closing its doors. (WSBT Photo)

By WSBT News1

NILES -- It's been a family favorite in the community for 40 years. But employees at Ewert's Pet Shop in Niles will soon have to say goodbye to customers for good. Thanks to tough economic times, the store is preparing to go out of business.

"She holds on real good," said Ewert's Pet Shop employee George Blake as he looks at his favorite iguana.

But Blake will soon have to let go of "Phat Girl" for good. Thanks to tough economic times, Ewert's Pet Shop is preparing to close its doors.

Blake says as the cost of living goes up people are forced to spend less on their pets.

"And they're only buying what they need to maintain their present animals, like coming in and buying mice for their snakes and food for their dogs and cats, but that's it. And there's little markup or profit on food in a pet store. So we just aren't making enough to survive," said Blake.

But for others, buying pet food is simply too much. Blake says people have been dropping off their animals at the store.

"Somebody brought in a crocodile they couldn't afford to feed anymore and big snakes because they have buy a rat every week," said Blake.

Forty years ago, Blake's grandfather opened Ewert's — a business that was originally an appliance store with just one shelf of fish food.

"And that shelf became a couple more shelves," recalled Blake.

But now many of those shelves sit empty and the walls are covered in sale signs.

"We have customers that have been coming in crying and hugging us as they leave," said Blake.

Including Erin Easton. She's been coming into Ewert's since she was 12 years old.

"It's sad to see a place like this go because one of my friends worked here and we had been coming in here since we were kids. And it's just been a part of the community for such a long time and there's no other place like this in Niles," said Easton.

Local animal rescue groups say they've seen a significant jump in the number of abandoned animals. The Humane Society in Southwest Michigan now has a waiting list for those wanting to get rid of their pets.

Wednesday, Oct 8 at 4:29 PM alex wrote ...

Jim.. First of all, George Blake is not the owner of ewert's pets. And we never blamed wal-mart for us going out of business. Jim, we have never bought pet supplies at wal-mart..

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 4:50 PM Wal-Marts sucks wrote ...

I have never been to this pet store, but I just seen it on the news with another story of a Grocery store closing and blaming Wal-Mart. So I went hunting info for this pet store because I love pet stores, especially exotic ones, maybe worth the 2 and a half hour round trip drive. Pet Store going out of business due to Wal-Mart, I doubt it. Anyone ever look at Wal-Mart’s fish? Can I say quarantine tank? Anyone ever notice the ratio of product placement and self space used for fish medicines? Th

Tuesday, Oct 7 at 8:35 AM Jim - Niles wrote ...

Cornfusion, I Must agree with the others that I think Walmart is Great and I love to shop there!!! Also at least 4 to 5 nights a month, I see Mr. George Blake, the owner of Ewart's, shopping at the Niles Walmart when I am shopping there!

Monday, Oct 6 at 6:00 PM dan/south bend wrote ...

EWERTS, THANK YOU! I'VE BOUGHT MANY FISH FROM THERE AND HAD NO PROBLEMS.YOU HAVE EVEN TAKEN IN FISH THAT HAD GOTTEN TOO BIG FOR OUR TANKS.ALL WE CAN SAY IS THANK YOU AND GOOD LUCK IN THE FUTURE.YOU WILL BE MISSED.

Monday, Oct 6 at 12:35 PM conservative wrote ...

Now us Republicans are responsible for pet stores closing?

Monday, Oct 6 at 10:14 AM Cornfusion wrote ...

Jerry I think Walmart is a wonderful place to shop and an even better place to give birth to a child in and when that child gets a little bigger what could be more fun than returning to the place of his/her birth where they can shimmy up inside a coin operated game vending machine and be on display until the fire department comes to get hem out. Me? I like a little less drama and I would like to support places that provide FULL time jobs and benefits to my neighbors. I'm just funny that way.

Monday, Oct 6 at 9:27 AM Mode Amie C. wrote ...

Is Walmart to blame because they got everything cheap? I dont think so. There supply and the demand is alwyas the quotient of which markes run their business. But at least we have some other place to go shopping for our beloved pets. Dont cry please. The cats and the dogs are well taken care of and if you dont want them, someone else will take them. There is always a kind hearted people who will never abandon their beloved pets. I know how you feel, and my prayer go out for all of you too. God

Monday, Oct 6 at 7:25 AM Jerry Niles wrote ...

I shop Walmart and so do millions of other people, everytime that I wait in the long checkout line, I thanked god for their low prices! I also can't understand if all the people that knock Walmart, really didn't shop at Walmart, how can these lines at the checkout be so long and their rcord breaking sales be so high! Hmmmm maybe Walmart is a better place to shop then what people post on this webpage!

Monday, Oct 6 at 6:51 AM wondering wrote ...

question: will there be a sale now?

Sunday, Oct 5 at 8:06 PM MISSED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wrote ...

I used to go there all the time. At least the feed their pets unlike WALMART!

Sunday, Oct 5 at 5:50 PM crystal wrote ...

This story kills me. I worked there for seven years and i worry about the people who worked there and their family's. Not to mechion watching my family's business go down like this! To watch what you always thought would be your future go down the drain like that is a real eye opener!!! I will miss seeing all the frendly and familiar faces when i walk in. That store has been a part of my life since before i was born.I have a picture of the orginal store with my mom pregnant with me. i'll miss u!

Sunday, Oct 5 at 5:00 PM Mark wrote ...

Iam going to miss the place .Ive been going there every couple weeks for yrs to buy my fish food .Everyone in there was so nice .I wish them all the best of luck !!!!

Sunday, Oct 5 at 4:41 PM Carol Martins wrote ...

We all love our animals and they have become part of our families. It is like a dear cousin or son even daughter. We feel so much for them that we cry when they are sick or if they get lost like my small poodle named Moodie we looked for her all over the place and we could not find her. I still wonder if it ended up in some rescue animal place. I hate to see pet supply stores closing all over the place. It seems to me it is an epidemic. I dont blame the owners. They have no choice but say good b

Sunday, Oct 5 at 4:27 PM julio wrote ...

thanks for letting us know that rick.

Sunday, Oct 5 at 3:22 PM Not George B wrote ...

Oh come on, I remember George and Mccain telling me the economy was strong. Say it ain't so!

Sunday, Oct 5 at 2:27 PM rick wrote ...

wow. i am shocked. i live in niles. my cat came from ewerts. this is so sad. and yes we had the cat fixed.

Sunday, Oct 5 at 2:21 PM Cornfusion wrote ...

11:31 AM Thank you for the in depth report on the goings on of this pet shop. I'm so impressed that not only did you take time to visit it from week to week you apparently supported it at one point. I could surmise that you are a mule because you kick things when they're down or maybe a rabid dog that is just MAD and lashing out from your pain, actually I think maybe you are a skunk because your opinion and timing to share it stinks. Of course there is always the possibility that you are just a

Sunday, Oct 5 at 10:31 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Ewerts has been going down hill for years---the place was a train wreck inside..Nothing organized...Many things on the shelf had been there for yrs...Poorly run business!!

Sunday, Oct 5 at 9:42 AM wow wrote ...

i live on an isolated country road and dropped off pets definitley fluctuates with economic times. out of their sheltered enviroment, these animals become roadkill or prey.

Sunday, Oct 5 at 12:26 AM To bjk wrote ...

It's a nice thought but if a person cannot afford an adoption fee then how are they supposed to be able to afford to care for the animal. Part of responsible ownership is being able to afford it.

Sunday, Oct 5 at 12:00 AM Rob wrote ...

It's funny how we just had a Petco open up here in Elkhart and yet mom and pop stores are being forced to close. Kinda seems to reflect what has happened to a lot of other retail stores. Hardware stores, grocery stores, pharmacies, etc. It's sad really. I feel for all of them.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 11:32 PM bjk100 wrote ...

There are a lot of lonley senior citizens out there who would love to have a pet but cannot afford to pay an adoption fee. Drop the fee and let them adopt a cat or dog. They will be so happy and those pets will find loving homes.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 11:18 PM Cornfusion wrote ...

It is very sad that people cannot afford to keep loved pets. It's sadder that this story gives the impression people go further out of their way to provide a save environment for pets than some people do for children. Compassion; you either have it or you don't. Responsible pet owners have their pets neutered so that innocent newborns are not left to stray and fend for themselves. As badly as I feel about it I cannot make myself donate or appeal to others to do so when people need things more.

Saturday, Oct 4 at 11:12 PM Me Myself And I wrote ...

~God will make a way just hold on I will pray for you and your pets .I know just how you fill cause I love my DOG and I just cant imagine leaving with out it~

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