MONROE, Wash. — The Reptile Zoo in Monroe will remain open – at least for now.
In August, KIRO 7 reported that it would be closing after struggling for years to recover following the COVID-19 Pandemic.
“We tried to raise our prices in April as a last ditch effort to keep things going… and my revenue fell 25%,” owner Isaac Petersen said. “People can’t afford higher prices, I can’t do any cheaper.”
The entire business and its assets were put up for sale with a price tag of $385,000, according to the website.
While nobody has purchased it, there has been a surge of visitors – keeping the business temporarily afloat.
“We have been very busy lately. Expect larger-than-usual crowds,” the website states.
Dallas Weber returned to the business in the wake of the announcement.
“I love this place,” Weber said. “Right before the pandemic, I found myself homeless and I was in a youth shelter and we got to come here for free and we would come here all the time.”
“We live about an hour away up in Auburn,” Weber’s roommate Kit said.
“I would love to take my kids here someday,” Weber said.
The Reptile Zoo was founded in 1996 and is located off Highway 2. It’s home to the most extensive collection of reptiles in the Pacific Northwest.
The zoo will be temporarily closed starting Oct. 19 for some deep cleaning and rearranging. It will reopen on Nov. 15.
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