Longtime Jefferson City pet supply staple CJ's Pet Corral moved fully online in April.
Owner CJ Weadick previously operated stores in Fulton, in Jefferson Plaza on Missouri Boulevard and, lastly, at 913 Leslie Blvd. Suite H. Since 2015, the Leslie Boulevard location opened only on Fridays.
"I shipped to every state in the lower 48 last year, and I'm closing in on that already," Weadick said Thursday. "There's not the local impact that we once had."
CJ's Pet Corral specializes in pets including captive-bred reptiles, saltwater fish and coral, as well as supplies for those pets. Over the years, he bred more than 150 different species of reptiles and amphibians.
Weadick specializes in ball pythons, including rare breeds of the snake.
He will still maintain breeding houses for the business in the Jefferson City area. With the change, customers can contact him via CJ's Pets Facebook Page, cjspets.com and on the company's Instagram page.
Weadick also serves as the caregiver for his 90-year-old father. Moving the business fully online allows his schedule to be more flexible and help his father more.
He sees the online move as a chance to diversify and expand his business. Recently, Weadick began growing rare Scottish Highland cattle and goats, and began farming corals.
Weadick said he loves his local customers and is in the midst of creating a new service tailored to customers in the Jefferson City area, but he declined to reveal his plans. By moving online, though, he said he will miss seeing his customers in person.
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