The gravel parking lot, the blue letters with white backing stating "Bob's Aquariums", we all share a little part of that fond memory, don't we? I for one cannot recall a more exciting trip as a child than to Bob's. Seeing the sign from the back of a Ford Taurus wagon, as I sat buckled in my car seat, man that memory warms my soul. This story is vastly incomplete. Heck, in even making this post I'm leaving out too much. Yet, perhaps in making this post it will drum up some better more colorful content? Feel free to comment below! When I went digging through the State Archives, I wasn't sure what would turn up. With the help of Ian Dunn, we located a roll of film in the N&O photographic collections, of Bob walking a photographer through his store. In several shots bob feeds a pair of Discus (fish). I purchased this photo from the Archives, (it's catalog number is in the caption of the photo). And while I cherish the shot, I'd love to have found a photo of the front of the building. Why? I guess building fronts so often get torn down, or replaced with larger buildings that we don't think to snap a picture. We didn't then but we do now, sadly. But one hack--or workaround--I've used is through accessing Wake County's real estate records. In so many cases I've been able to strike gold there, but not with this one. What I do know: I know that Bob passed away some time ago. Efforts have been made in the past to reach out to the family, but I couldn't establish contact. So for now, my intent in making this post is to celebrate local aquarium shops, like bob's that stick in the back of our memories. There are so many others that come to mind, Fish Pros, Aquarium Outfitters, Sea World. All of them once had a place here in Raleigh. Fish keepers in raleigh know that wonderful high humidity smell and warmth that hits you when you walk into an aquarium. The condensation caked over the windows hiding a wonderful world just behind that door. Good times. If you have an opportunity to share this post, or make a connection with Bob's family. Let them know we cherish his business and the happiness he brought to Raleigh.
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Matt Busch, Author
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March 2022
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