Exotic animal shop closes its doors, owner cites unresolved air conditioning problems and dispute with landlord

BEAUMONT- Beaumont’s only exotic pet store closes just three months after opening due to a dispute with its landlord.

Golden Triangle Pets and Exotics in the Village Shopping Center in Concord has nearly 300 animals that need homes now. Lisa Broadway, the store’s owner, says the loss is heartbreaking.

“I’ve put everything I have into my business. It’s about my children’s future,” Broadway said. “This is not just a pet store.”

Broadway successfully operated the pet store in Vidor for three years before moving to the Village Shopping Center in May. She says the store has only been open for a total of three weeks since the move due to air conditioning problems.

“This is not the first, second, third or fourth time. The air conditioning has failed several times, the fuse box is not set correctly. The air conditioning has leaks,” Broadway said.

The air conditioning in the store has broken down for the sixth time. Broadway says the landlord has fixed the air conditioning each time, but not this time.

“I’m about to lose everything because I can’t afford to move anywhere. I definitely can’t afford $1,300 to get the air conditioning fixed,” Broadway said. “These are things the landlord should be responsible for.”

A representative of Regional Properties, the management company of the Village Shopping Center, explains that according to the lease, it was never their responsibility to fix the problem, but they wanted to help.

Three other stores in the mall, Roses and Family Dollar, had the same air conditioning problems. Another organization in the mall, The Surviving Parents of Southeast Texas, wanted to help raise money, but Broadway says it’s too late.

“I have already announced on Facebook that I am closing,” Broadway said. “The welfare of my animals is my top priority and I will not keep them in this environment any longer than necessary.”

We took a thermometer into the store on Friday morning and it showed it was 90 degrees inside. Broadway had to move most of her furry animals into her RV so they could survive.

Broadway has invested over $280,000 in her business over time. Although it’s too late for her, she hopes things will change for other tenants.

“People work so hard and put everything they have into their business. And it’s necessary to have someone who is able to solve these problems,” Broadway said.

On Friday afternoon, our thermometer in the store read 30 degrees, which is perfect for the reptiles in the store, but there were about 200 furry animals there that couldn’t stand the heat and still needed a home.

Golden Triangle Pets and Exotics was last open on Saturday from 12pm to 7pm. The store is officially closed.