Creature Comforts to close its doors March 31

Creature Comforts, which has served animal lovers in Fallbrook for more than 35 years by providing quality pet supplies and first-class customer service, will close the doors of its store at 720 E. Mission Rd. for the final time today (March 31) at 6 p.m.

"I’m 78, so it’s time," said Shirley Schmitt, who has owned Creature Comforts for more than 30 years and was an employee when owner Scott Garmon first opened the store in 1979. "I deserve to go fishing with my grandson."

Schmitt will be fishing the Salmon River in Riggins, Idaho, where she will live with her daughter, Diana Stewart, who a year ago purchased a beautiful three-story house that sits on the bank of the river. Mark Jay, her son and longtime store manager of Creature Comforts, will join his family in Idaho in a few months.

"Scott just graduated from college and was starting an animal supply store," said Schmitt of her introduction to Creature Comforts. "I was always into horses and loved animals, so I answered the help wanted ad in the paper and got the job and that was it. Thirty-five years later, here I am."

Five years after the grand opening of his store on the 100 block of E. Mission Rd., Garmon opened a manufacturing company and sold Creature Comforts to Schmitt, who would move the business four times.

"When we bought it we moved it down to where the sushi place is now," said Schmitt, referring to Yama Restaurant at 1067 S. Main St. "Then we outgrew that and moved to where St. Vincent DePaul is (520 S. Main) and were there for 10 years. Then they doubled my rent and we moved to a two-story building on Beech St. (131 W. Beech) and were there for 10 years. Then I was too old to go up and down those stairs so we moved here (720 E. Mission Rd.)."

Wherever Schmitt went, her customers followed.

"I’ve had some loyal customers that have been with me since we first started," said Schmitt. "That’s what I’ll miss the most, the customers. I want to thank them all."

So what made Creature Comforts so popular?

"Customer service and our knowledge base of the ingredients in the products," said Jay. "It’s not the name of the product, it’s what goes into it, and it’s knowledge of the nutritional requirements of dogs and cats. It’s research and reading and getting that knowledge base."

Schmitt agreed.

"Lots of knowledge," said Schmitt. "A lot of studying to know what we’re talking about."

Schmitt added that having the right people relay that information is very important.

"I’ve always had good employees and I thank all of them," said Schmitt. "I pat myself on the back as I’ve always been able to choose good employees. Our alumni includes a doctor, a CIA member, and a Harvard graduate. And our last one here, Adam Zimmerman, he’s a great young man. His brother, Matt, also worked for me."

Employees would patrol a store that could feature anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 products, including vaccines.

"You’d be surprised how many people give their own vaccines," said Jay. "It cuts down on so much money."

Things can happen when you run a business for 35 years – like having your fiberglass horse stolen.

"His name was Standing Idle," said Schmitt. "When we moved down to (what is now) St. Vincent DePaul, we put him up on the roof. For a high school prank, seniors stole him off the roof. Before I even knew he was missing, the Sheriff's Dept. called me and said he was sticking his head through the hedge down at the high school. So we went and got him and we started to put him back up on the roof. While were trying to get him back up there, a lady that owned a liquor store saw us and said, 'Oh, I’m so glad you’re putting him up there. I love to watch the little kids ride him every night.'"

"So, real quick like, we lowered him back down and we bolted him in the back of my pickup," continued Schmitt. "He went zooming around town months and months until I forgot he was there and I ran him into my carport. We had to repair his neck. But he’s making the trip – he’s going to Idaho with us."

Jay recalled when a lady decided to take a cat nap on a dog bed when the store was located on Beech St.

"We had a separate room where all the dog beds were," said Jay. "She walks in, sees where the dog beds are, goes in and crawls underneath the shelf and curls up in one of the dog beds. She’s there for about 10 minutes and we’re all just sitting there looking at her. Then she gets up, walks over and says, 'Tthank you for your hospitality,' and walks out of the store."

Schmitt will walk out of the store this evening with fond memories and a bit of heavy heart.

"It’s been fun," said Schmitt, who acknowledged that closing day is going to be a very emotional one. "It’s going to be sad. It’s going to be tough to leave Fallbrook." To comment on this story online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.