12/21/2025
Official…Unofficial statement about the rumors of us closing. Unfortunately the rumors are true!
The internet has sealed our fate along with many other small businesses. Tuesday 12/23/25 will be our last day open!
However, THE STORE WILL REMAIN OPEN!
The Fish Bowl in West Warwick is most likely buying us out. Paperwork with lawyers and such are still in the works, so nothing is officially, but 90% happening.
The store will be closed for about 2 weeks for the transition and hopefully reopening under new ownership the second week of January.
We started off as the daughter store of the infamous Critter Hut in 2004 as “Critter Hut NK”.
The Champlins and I built up this store in NK until 2017, when tragedy struck the Champlin family twice within a year! At which it was time for them to step out and focus on the OG Critter Hut in the Wakefield/Narragansett area.
In 2019, I fully took control of the NK store and rebranded it as A’s Aquatics & Pet Store. Sadly, a few years later and after almost 50 years in business! - Critter Hut Aquarium & Pets in Wakefield had to close their doors.
In RI, full-line pet stores with live animals are a dying breed, with several going out of business since COVID. The last few years have been a struggle and with the way this world and economy are changing, small businesses just can’t compete! COVID pushed everyone to shop online and with the rising prices that prevailed, consumers have made it clear that this is the new norm! With this online convenience, our sales have fallen making our business unsustainable.
Maintaining & selling live animals, cost money!
Our time to help and educate you, cost money!
Brick & Mortar to be there for you, cost money!
Thank you to our valued customers for the last 20 years in business (you know who you are!), It’s been a pleasure to meet you, laugh with you, cry with you and watch your kids and pets grow over the years.
Sorry for the expedited departure. If you need any supplies before we say goodbye, feel free to stop in and ask.
Thank you,
Adam & My Outstanding Employees
