"So long, and thanks for fish."
-Douglas Adams
Almost forty-seven years ago, Bob and Kit Champlin started on an epic journey together when they opened Critter Hut Aquarium & Pets, which would eventually become a family-favorite stop for many in South County. Throughout the years, our family saw customers come through the doors of the many locations that Critter Hut called home; from th
e "little red house" on Main Street in Wakefield, to the Heritage Mall where CVS now stands, to Salt Pond Plaza, and finally the Wakefield Mall. Customers, friends, and even family members have come and gone, as thousands of animals have found new homes and favorite foods from within our walls. Partnering with local shelters, Critter Hut has donated thousands of pounds of food over the years, as well as helped with fundraisers and adoptions. Through multiple family tragedies and a global pandemic, we have kept our doors open, proudly serving the South County community with integrity and passion. Our solitary goal continued to be to provide a family-friendly spot where you could get old-fashioned customer service and quality products. With heavy hearts, the Champlin family is now announcing that on May 30th we will be closing our doors permanently. The on-going supply chain issues combined with continually increasing costs have brought us to the point of exhaustion. We no longer have the drive nor the heart to continue the battle to keep our doors open. Our lives have been within the walls of Critter Hut for many years, but the time has come to seek our destiny outside of them. This is not a decision that was made lightly. It has been an absolute honor to serve our customers over the years, and we will always cherish the memories that we have all made together. For customers who are feeding specific foods, please talk to one of our associates so we can help you determine a replacement store to provide your needs. We encourage you to continue to shop local independent retailers. If you have gift certificates, please be sure to use them before May 30th. Please stay tuned for further details on discounts that will be starting, adjusted business hours as well as used equipment and fixtures that will be available for purchase. Thank you for being a part of the Critter Hut family on this amazing journey.
