06/29/2019
I know everyone is wondering what is going on and I have been putting this off for numerous reasons please understand that this is difficult at best. I am by nature a very shy and introverted person. I do not like putting my business out there it takes a lot for me to be what I have to be in the front of the store; it takes even more for me to trust enough to open up to people. My life experiences have not been the greatest when doing so often times finding myself trusting the wrong person(s). Which is why I currently am finding myself in the position I am in.
But the situation at hand has forced me and I am finding that I have no other options before me. So here it is in a condensed version. I will be putting more out there over the next few days/weeks in order to keep everyone informed.
I am in the middle of a legal battle with the City of Jacksonville; animal control has been the primary ones that have perpetrated this based on their limited knowledge of a situation that began roughly around a year and a half to two years ago and just so its out there Animal control has never given me the opportunity to tell my side of the story or for that matter even tried to talk to me about it. They have instead chosen to assume the worst, demonize me, and make it their life‘s mission to put me out of business with one of them even going so far as to brag about it to me two days ago. But the actual reason they have forced me to close is building code violations: I took a wall down without pulling a permit seven years ago and I am not allowed to use extension cords that is apparently unsafe. So the store has been forced to close to every day foot traffic until I get this resolved which I am working dilligently on. The city representatives that came out were not able to give me an answer on whether not I can operate out of a tent in the parking lot, or by any other means. I explained to the four different divisions that my customers depend on me to get what they need being a specialty store and that I would also hope that they understand that I need to be able to continue to survive. They all acted honestly understanding yet at the same time indifferent- which truthfully they are just doing their job except for the gentleman with animal control he had his moment of triumph and when you ask for you right to legal representation it obviously is interpreted by this man as though you are questioning his authority (again my opinion). Regardless none of them could, or would give me a straight answer other than to tell me how to come into compliance with the particular division of the city they represented. So there you have it that is what is going on. Now what am I going to do for my customers until I can get this straightened out?
Until my attorney instructs me otherwise this is how I am going to continue to do business and provide my customers with what they need!
Starting SUNDAY JUNE 30TH I will be taking orders through:
FACEBOOK MESSENGER or
TEXT TO ‪ (904) 274-0175 or
CALL IN TO (904) 348-2050
we would prefer the first two it helps us track orders
BETWEEN THESE TIMES
11:00am-11:30am for pick up 12:00pm-12:30pm
1:00pm-1:30pm for pick up 2:00pm-2:30pm
3:00pm-3:30pm for pick up 4:00pm-4:30pm
5:00pm-5:30pm for pick up 6:00pm-6:30pm
7:00pm-7:30pm for pick up 8:00pm-8:30pm
Do to the situation being what it is I really need everyone:
to be on time and please be understanding.
If possible have cash (it helps speed things up).
Pull in, Pay, Take your order, and Go! I don't want to fan the flames-this isn't an attempt at practicing civil disobedience.
SORRY BUT AT NO POINT WILL WE ACCEPT WALK UP ORDERS UNDER DIRECTIVE FROM THE CITY CODE ENFORCEMENT
Now on a personal level: my oversight, lack of judgment, and the fact that I have made some very poor decisions as to who I've hired over the past two years has played a major roll in this and it has hurt me tremendously both personally and professionally; but more than anything it has inconvenienced you, my customers, for that I would like to apologize and say the store desperately could use your support right now and I sincerely thank you for all of your loyalty, please continue to support us as we work through this. Thank You!
Sincerely, Ron
Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from House of Reptiles, Reptile Pet Store, 5501 Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, FL.
