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"Well, isn't that nice?"
Review votes:
1 Useful, 2 Funny, and 1 Cool
Location
San Leandro, CA
Yelping SinceOctober 2009
Things I Love Find Me Ina coma.
My HometownSan Lorenzo, Ca., San Leandro, Ca., Aurora, Co.
When I'm Not Yelping...I'm doing other things.
Most Recent DiscoveryTom Kha yummmmmy
Current CrushBeing Single- Does that count?
Date
I've been going to the Reptile Room since their days in San Lorenzo. I like their location in Hayward because it is easy to get to- when their lot isn't full and there aren't semi trucks blocking the street. Which brings me to today...
Mocha, my ball python, was eyeballing me from the corner of her cozy home. Ok, well, maybe not. She was sleeping and I happened to walk by and think, "It's time to feed the snake." Off to the Reptile Room I went.
It was 12:45 on a beautiful Friday. What an amazing day I was having! And then, there is was, a semi facing the wrong direction, blocking the one-way street that the Reptile Room is on. Simple enough, pull around the corner and park at the Liqua' Sto. What's another 30 feet to walk? It's still an amazing day.
And then... BLAM! The stench of the store hit me in the face like Chris Brown smacking Rhianna. I understand that reptiles (and the assorted food sources that go with them) have a smell. A smell that with proper ventilation and care is not noticeable. This was heavy, nasty, steamy, swamp-like funk of ickiness. To be fair, it was a warm day and Aron was nice enough to have the doors open and fans on, but my gawd! *gag*
I walked around for a minute or two, looking at the assorted animals. From time-to-time it seems as though the store is in need of a cleaning. Today, it was clean! So, where was that smell coming from? The snakes were active, the lizards were happy, the turtles were swimming. I noticed they've added bunnies to their assortment of small animals. Unfortunately, there were 6 or 7 bunnies being kept in a small koi pond- it was empty, but still that's bad. Similar to the numerous quail being kept in a small glass tank.
Aron was busy with the delivered goods, never-ending phone calls, and his adorable son who was helping him in the shop. I really appreciate that he stopped in the middle of a phone call to ask, "What do you need?" but I am sure the person on the phone wasn't thrilled. He asked if the hopper was big enough and then brought me a mouse the perfect size. I paid and went on my merry way, returning home to shower the smell off of me.
One star for quick service, one for the cleanliness, one for the healthy animals. The smell and the crowded conditions each knock-off a point.
Mocha, my ball python, was eyeballing me from the corner of her cozy home. Ok, well, maybe not. She was sleeping and I happened to walk by and think, "It's time to feed the snake." Off to the Reptile Room I went.
It was 12:45 on a beautiful Friday. What an amazing day I was having! And then, there is was, a semi facing the wrong direction, blocking the one-way street that the Reptile Room is on. Simple enough, pull around the corner and park at the Liqua' Sto. What's another 30 feet to walk? It's still an amazing day.
And then... BLAM! The stench of the store hit me in the face like Chris Brown smacking Rhianna. I understand that reptiles (and the assorted food sources that go with them) have a smell. A smell that with proper ventilation and care is not noticeable. This was heavy, nasty, steamy, swamp-like funk of ickiness. To be fair, it was a warm day and Aron was nice enough to have the doors open and fans on, but my gawd! *gag*
I walked around for a minute or two, looking at the assorted animals. From time-to-time it seems as though the store is in need of a cleaning. Today, it was clean! So, where was that smell coming from? The snakes were active, the lizards were happy, the turtles were swimming. I noticed they've added bunnies to their assortment of small animals. Unfortunately, there were 6 or 7 bunnies being kept in a small koi pond- it was empty, but still that's bad. Similar to the numerous quail being kept in a small glass tank.
Aron was busy with the delivered goods, never-ending phone calls, and his adorable son who was helping him in the shop. I really appreciate that he stopped in the middle of a phone call to ask, "What do you need?" but I am sure the person on the phone wasn't thrilled. He asked if the hopper was big enough and then brought me a mouse the perfect size. I paid and went on my merry way, returning home to shower the smell off of me.
One star for quick service, one for the cleanliness, one for the healthy animals. The smell and the crowded conditions each knock-off a point.
No Lists
Erin hasn't made any lists yet.
I had drinks spilled on me by ridiculously drunk people, one crackhead who thought I looked at her man (though, everyone kept telling her she didn't have one), and a lady with a parrot... Yes, a parrot.
The bathroom has one stall and a large sink, which a very large woman was relieving herself in when I walked in. I was really impressed by her sense of balance in her drunken state! She then asked me for toilet paper but I couldn't find any... so, I decided to wait and use the bathroom elsewhere.
Upon exiting the facilities, I was greeted by a glass flying past me into the wall. "Oh, the people are real friendly around here." The ensuing fight between Idiot #1 and Idiot #2 ended quickly enough. Apparently, the regulars get a little rowdy from time to time and enjoy knocking a few teeth in now and then.
Having my fill of... whatever I had just experienced... I quickly left. Not my kinda place. I am sure that there are many who do enjoy it though... someone has to, right?