Four times 'Practical Fishkeeping UK Retailer of the Year' winner Tri-Mar is moving.
The Cornish fishkeeping institution has been at its characterful Victorian home in Tuckingmill, near Camborne for almost half a century, but redevelopment plans for the building means a move to new premises.
The new shop will be just over a mile away at Unit 16B, Pool Industrial Estate with around 2,500 sq ft of space to fill.
Owner Monty Ray, who has been running Tri-Mar since 1987 said, "Both the staff and customers are really excited by the move. The industry has changed a lot in recent years, and this move gives us the opportunity to develop the business further".
Tri-Mar was a pioneer of mail order fish sales which helped expand its reach and reputation beyond the borders of Cornwall. To help keep disturbance to customers and livestock to a minimum Monty and his team plan to run both old and new premises simultaneously for a short time.
Monty explained, "AquaOne is supplying the new display tanks which are arriving in March and we hope to be able to start the process of moving some time in February but it may take a couple of months and heaven knows what we’ll find when we start stripping out this old place!"
The new shop will contain custom made display areas for tropical, marine and coldwater fish and associated dry goods, as well as two dedicated reptile rooms for this expanding area of the business.
The new site also offers easier access and as Monty was keen to point out, "lots of parking, and it’s flat!" in reference to their current pot-holed car park which is often affectionately referred to as 'the pond section'.
While the move will see the end of this most distinctive of fishkeeping premises, Monty is sure that many of the qualities that make Tri-Mar unique will travel across with the staff and fish during their big move.
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