By Diane Penning, Alden Advance

Few of us achieve the dreams and goals we set for ourselves throughout our lives, but Nick and Angie (Mondragon) Clark of Albert Lea are actually seeing their dream happening right before their eyes.

These 2001 Alden-Conger High School graduates recently found a location to open Clark&8217;s Aquatics & More, at 115 N. Newton in Albert Lea, just west of the Albert Lea Library. They officially opened their pet store on July 5 and have lots to offer potential customers and even those people who would like to come in and browse.

Following graduation, the two friends pursued different occupations, but finally came to realize that much of what each of them wanted individually was something they wanted to do together.

Thus, they were married in 2005 and began to work toward the dream of opening their own store in Albert Lea.

&8220;We just made it happen,&8221; Nick said, &8220;and I learned all I needed to know while attending the A-C School.&8221;

He spent much of his time studying the different types of animals he would like to have in the store, the availability and maintenance of the animals and how he could make his goal happen.

The variety of the animals and supplies is expansive, but inventory continues to grow, based on customer need and demand. The couple can order any specialty animals or supplies and plan on expanding the building from the current lower level into the even larger upper floor of the building where they will be putting their kittens, puppies, dog food and treats, leashes and collars.

The downstairs level has a multitude of fish supplies, aquariums, feeder crickets (for lizards, frogs and spiders), frozen fish food and soon to arrive will be their butter and wax worm feeders and frozen mice and rats to feed your favorite reptiles.

The Clarks have reptiles available, including snakes (Columbian red tail, boa constrictors, albino Burmese python and ball pythons), lizards (green basilisk, Savannah monitor, and bearded dragons) and turtles (Western box turtle). Their amphibian collection includes frogs, newts and salamanders. They also have arachnids (spiders) &045; starburst baboon tarantulas, Costa Rican tiger rump tarantulas, and trap door spiders.

Their fresh and salt water fish tanks hold payara, red belly piranha, goldfish, red and rare community fish, neons, aggressive oscars, red devils and sword tails, etc.

&8220;We&8217;re glad to see an interest (in the pet store) from the people of the area,&8221; said Angie. &8220;Instead of having to drive to Rochester or Mankato, they can now stop at our store and pick up what they need or we can order whatever they want &8212; we&8217;re here to establish a rapport with our customers and we hope to have much more to offer then in the future.&8221;

The store currently boasts peach-faced love birds, cockatiels, society and zebra finches and doves. The hedgehogs, dwarf and teddy bear hamsters, mice, rabbits, rats, guinea pigs and soon-to-arrive kittens make a trip to the store lots of fun for adults and children alike.

Watching the large Columbian iguanas, Speedy and Caesar, run and climb inside their large cage makes for an entertaining time at the new and expanding store.

&8220;We hope to eventually buy the building,&8221; Nick said, &8220;and expand into more exotic and domestic animals, like cats and dogs. We want to meet the needs of our customers and will do our best to accomplish this.&8221;

The Clarks are already planning some special events in the coming months, including decorating one of the rooms at the Albert Lea Country Inn & Suites for the Halloween Haunted House this month. They plan on bringing a few of their favorite &8220;scary-looking&8221; animals and offering prizes, treats and discount coupons to the families who visit them during this spooky affair.

Store hours are: Tuesdays, noon to 3 p.m.; Wednesdays, noon to 6 p.m.; Thursdays and Fridays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays, 1 to 3 p.m.; and Sundays,

9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The store is closed Mondays.