Eden’s Reptiles is moving into a brick-and-mortar storefront after six years as a home business, and the owners hope it can become ‘a place that people want to come and they want to see.’
Over the past several years, Ernie and Ruth Rowntree have rescued reptiles from around northern Ontario.
From lizards and turtles to snakes and frogs, the couple has taken in countless animals over that time, finding new homes for many while educating the public about proper reptile care along the way.
This week their home-based business, Eden’s Reptiles, is moving to a brick-and-mortar storefront at 812 Queen St. E., with a grand opening planned for May 23.
“We’ve been working out of our house for six years now, and we take in a lot – 90 per cent of our animals here at Eden’s Reptiles are rescue animals from people in northern Ontario,” Ernie told SooToday.
“We needed to expand and get this into Sault Ste. Marie, and make it a place that people want to come and they want to see.”
In a sense, their store will serve as a standard pet shop.
Customers will be able to come in, purchase supplies and pets, and seek advice on how to build proper setups and take care of their cold-blooded friends.
“We can help them right from the ground up,” Ernie said.
But the couple hopes their shop can serve as something more.
With around 85 reptiles and amphibians calling the new shop home – as well as a lone hedgehog – the couple would like Eden’s Reptiles to become a reptile community hub where people of all ages can go to learn and have fun.
“If you’re looking for a snake and you’re not sure about snakes, we have what we call a ‘snake snuggle,’ which is where you come and I teach you everything about snakes that you could possibly want to know, and you get to hold a bunch of our snakes,” Ernie said.
The couple certainly has the background for the role.
Prior to founding Eden’s Reptiles six years ago, Ernie spent 12 years as an animal lab technician at York University following a stint volunteering in an endangered animal sanctuary in Toronto – where he got his first experience with reptiles.
From putting together ‘bio-setups’ that include living substrate, to advice on decorating terrarium setups on a budget and ‘Rocking with the Reptiles’ parties, the couple hopes to host evening events for reptile enthusiasts of all ages.
This fall, they also plan to roll out a weekly kids’ club, where children can come out to interact with different reptiles and learn about their care.
“We’re going to start it in the fall, where we have the kids come in and we can teach kids all sorts of stuff and they get to help with the animals,” Ernie said.
It’s a community-building process the couple has already worked on for years – bringing certain ‘ambassador animals’ from their business to kids’ birthday parties, hosting events at their home, and more.
Soon, their physical storefront will give that community a dedicated space, and the opportunity for more people to join in.
“We’re really trying to bring that more into the Sault – get people involved, especially the children,” Ernie said.
At its grand opening event May 23, a singer from the Korah Collegiate band Mustang Sally will perform live music for customers to enjoy.
More information is available on the Eden’s Reptiles website.
