1235 Grand Avenue, Billings, MT 59102
	(406) 252-1788 Fax (406) 252-1524 e-mail birdsill@imt.net

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  A Brief History  

The Tropical Shop opened for business at 725 Grand Avenue in Billings, Montana on August 18, 1980. The 1800 square foot shop was originally conceived as an exclusive aquarium shop, and dealt only in aquariums and tropical fish. Our first mascot, in what was to become a long line of resident livestock, was Wart, a red bellied piranha. Wart was purchased in November of 1979, expressly to live in the Tropical Shop. She got her name from the large protruding build up of scar tissue on her lower lip that resulted from banging into the glass during feeding frenzys over the years. She finally died on Thanksgiving, 1999, having lived over 19 of her 20 years in the store.

"This is the important part!"

In 1985, to maintain growth, the product line was expanded to include birds and related products. This expansion led to the purchase of Barney, a blue and gold macaw that became the store's vocal mascot. Barney hatched out June 8, 1986 and took up residence at the store shortly after he turned 6 weeks old. For a picture of the sweet little devil at that age, and one of orphan baby Koko, who was left on our doorstep in 1992 to became another permanent resident, check out the baby pictures on our bird pages.

In 1990, to keep up with growth and to expand into other lines of the pet industry, The Tropical Shop moved to 1235 Grand Avenue. This was a 6000 square foot building that not only allowed for the addition of much more inventory and aquatic display space, but also allowed for the manufacture of aquariums and lighting products on sight. This manufacturing had previously been done at home in the garage.

This is when the store expanded into full line pet supplies, including Iams and Science Diet pet foods, reptile and small animal supplies. The garden pond department was also expanded with the installation of a 700 gallon in store pond and water fall.

Another addition to the Tropical Shop family took place in 1997 with the acquisition of a baby red tail catfish. It wasn't long after the baby picture that his phenominal growth rate necessitated his move into a six foot square, 500 gallon show tank that became his permanent home.

All good things come to an end, it is said, and so The Tropical Shop closed its doors for good on January 21, 2001, twenty years and five months after it opened.

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