Mundelein pet store announces plans to close
A pet shop that has operated in Mundelein for 21 years is the latest casualty of the desperate economy.
Jungleland Pet Center owners Rick and Audrey Frankowski announced they have been forced to close the store at 1553 S. Lake St., and find new ways to support their family.
The decision was a tough one. "Our heart and soul and every penny we ever made has gone into this place," Audrey said with tears in her eyes. "I never expected it to end this way."
The Mundelein couple expects to close sometime after the holidays. They are still boarding small animals and must find homes for all the animals and resident pets, including Ozzie the Macaw and Edith, a 3-foot iguana.
It's common for customers to find two huge, 40-pound tortoises wandering around the 8,000-square-foot store for a little exercise. "They grew up here, they enjoyed it when people touched and pet them," Audrey said.
The shop sells pets, including kittens, puppies, ferrets, birds, fish and supplies. The owners treat the animals as their own. Audrey raises and hand-feeds birds at home in an incubator before bringing them into the store to sell.
The economic downturn has taken its toll on the pet industry. "We watched as so many of the independent pet shops closed around us. It's too tough to compete with the big box stores," she said.
The Mundelein owners say they first saw business drop after Sept. 11. It grew worse each year.
"I think a lot of people just have to cut back. People have to worry about paying the bills instead of buying a new pet," Audrey said.
"The economy has just crushed us," added store manager Bill Allen, who has worked at the shop for 16 years. Part of his role has been to take Ozzie and other animals to nursing homes and birthday parties.
Audrey, 53, said Rick has found another job as a security guard to help make ends meet.
"My husband has worked here 60 or 70 hours a week for 21 years," Audrey said. "He came in to feed and clean the animals everyday, including holidays. We're really going to miss this."