The Animal Store

The Animal Store in Lincolnwood, Illinois is a family-run pet shop tucked into a strip mall that generates strong opinions from its customers. While it's primarily known as a general exotic pet store — carrying birds, reptiles, hedgehogs, sugar gliders, rabbits, and small mammals — its freshwater fish section has earned a devoted following among longtime aquarists. One 45-year hobbyist swears by the store's high-quality, disease-free tropical fish, noting that owner Ken maintains a strong selection of African cichlids, including deals on juvenile fish for new tank setups.

The store also stocks bettas and livebearers like guppies, though the fish department advice has drawn mixed reviews — one family recounted being sold incompatible tiger barbs and guppies for a 10-gallon tank with unfortunate results. The store's real identity is as a neighborhood pet emporium. Birds are a major draw, with customers praising the large selection of bird toys across all sizes and staff knowledge about avian care.

Owner Ken (also referred to as Kenn or Kenneth in reviews) is a polarizing figure — many customers describe him as patient, informative, and genuinely helpful, particularly when setting up new pet owners with hedgehogs, budgies, or degus. He's known for offering practical care tips and even follow-up training advice. Others have found him abrupt and dismissive, especially over the phone.

The store offers boarding services for small animals, a rarity among independent pet shops. The inventory tends to run deeper than typical chain stores, with harder-to-find items like land snails and feeder insects alongside standard supplies. Animal housing conditions inside the store are a recurring concern in reviews, with some customers troubled by enclosure sizes for larger birds.

The store's smell — an inevitable byproduct of housing diverse exotic animals indoors — is noted but generally forgiven. For freshwater fish keepers in the Lincolnwood area seeking healthy stock and cichlid variety, The Animal Store remains a go-to destination worth the visit.