A "must visit" Liverpool shop still remembered in the city today told customers "don't touch the glass."
The Liverpool ECHO recently took a look back at City Pets on Roe Street, a popular pet shop once one of the oldest pet shops in the country that used to be a popular dumping ground for exotic animals from foreign shores. For generations who grew up in Liverpool, City Pets was a weird and wonderful place to visit and in the days before the laws and regulations we have today, after months at sea, sailors are said to have returned home with "racoons, baboons and even alligators."
Edward Roberts ran the shop until he died in 1916 and the business stayed in the family, being passed down through the generations to his son George and then his sons Keith, Phil and Ray. The pet shop also grew out of its previous premises and relocated to St John's Precinct in the 1960s.
Read More:
- Liverpool fountains that kids ran through and 'had a ball'
- Iconic show tune that's still a Liverpool FC anthem 60 years on
For many, it was a routine on every trip to town to visit the shop, or pine for time with the animals while staring through the window waiting for the bus. Compared to its early days selling baboons, parrots and puppies, later generations ventured inside to see the tropical fish, hamsters, rabbits and more.
But, after 129 years in business, City Pets closed its doors for the final time in 2001. By 2002, the building that was once occupied by the Cunarder pub and City Pets became The Fall Well, JD Wetherspoon branch.
Many ECHO readers have since taken to social media to share their fond memories of City Pets. And here's a few of your comments.
Do you remember City Pets in Liverpool? Let us know in the comments section below.
On our Facebook page, Pauline Thomas said: "I remember the Liver Birds episode when Lucian threatened to jump off the roof of City Pets lol."
Sam Wharton said: "Loved City Pets went every weekend!! When I was little after coming over on the ferry, remember the piranhas and the parrot but not the baboon!!." Sue Stirrup commented: "Loved City Pets when I was a kid every time we went to town we’d always go in and see the animals."
Nicole Van posted: "Omg used to love City Pets it was a must visit." Graham Williams wrote: "I'll always remember the piranha they had. The sign said don't touch the glass . If you did, the piranha swam towards glass lol."
Marilyn Towey posted: "Had a tortoise bought for me from there it lived for forty years in the garden survived some really harsh winters too it would take itself off somewhere to hibernate and come back in the spring."
Victoria Ineson commented: "I remember this. They had a piranha. Don’t touch the glass but yeah that just made you wanna try it. I did a few times lmao."
Karen Fairhurst said: "Always a must visit as children being taken to Town." Mark Mccarthy said: "I used to spend all my pocket money in there every Saturday."
Pat McMahon wrote: "Used to go in there in my teens just to see the handsome fella who worked there."
Mary Lloydjones wrote: "My best friend & I worked in Williamson Square as trainee hairstylists, [we were always great friends with the guys in the pet shop, we didn’t buy any fish but we fancied the guys, brilliant times."
Kev Sinclair posted: "Best pet shop ever." Paul Taylor wrote: "City Pets was amazing."
Ruth Elaine Day commented: "I got all my three hamsters there many years ago, knew the staff well and loved going there on my lunch hour as I only worked on London Road at the time. Memories." Leanne Fenelon wrote: "My dad got our first pet budgie there, we had him for about 15 years, he even survived an attack from one of our cats!."
Join our Liverpool memories and history Facebook group here.
For more nostalgia stories, sign up to our Liverpool Echo newsletter here.
Eve Cottam said: "This has made me really nostalgic. Used to go with my grandad all the time. Would give anything to go back to those times!." William Young posted: "Every time in town...had to look at what new potential pets were in. Great memories!."
Ean Doobleu commented: "Used to deliver there, [I'd say] 'parcel for pet shop boys" they got fed up of me saying it lol." Great shop." And Alan Pike said: "Piranha on the counter. Memories."
Receive newsletters with the latest news, sport and what's on updates from the Liverpool ECHO by signing up here
Read Next:
- 'Side-business' that spawned Liverpool jobs, fortunes and fame
- 19 times Liverpool shone on the world stage
- 'Photie Man' captured vibrant characters from 80s and 90s Liverpool
- 'Fine showpiece' pub in Liverpool that sold beef curry for £1.90
- Famous Liverpool record store was 'still going strong' till the 90s
