Pasco Residents Unite to Bring New Businesses Downtown

Before he sold saltwater fish out of a storefront in New Port Richey, Johnathan Martin sold them out of his home’s garage.

Martin lives in Odessa with his wife, Jennifer, and 2-year-old son, Jayden. He’s kept fish as pets of his own since he was 12. Late last year, he basically used the garage as a pet fish store.

Now, his supply of tanks and equipment line the shelves in 5840 Main St. Wrasse, tangs and clownfish and other creatures swim in the tanks.

Martin’s business, , celebrated its grand opening on Main Street on Jan. 28. It shares space with , which is owned by Vincent Cerbini of Spring Hill.

Exquisite Aquatics specializes in saltwater fish and the tanks and equipment needed to make them feel at home in your living room. Martin also performs water changes, maintenance, installations, replacements and conversions.

Elite Corals specializes in corals and the invertebrates used to line your tank.

Martin has lived in Pasco County since he was a child. He recently spent four and a half years the in the Army, serving in logistics both stateside and overseas in South Korea. He kept fish in on-post housing in a 125-gallon tank.

“It’s just been a hobby that we decided to try to continue as entrepreneurs,” Martin said.

Cerbini has raised the creatures you find at the bottom of the ocean or aquariums professionally for two and a half years, he said. They include polyps, urchins and corals.

The Martins and Cerbini attended River Ridge High School together. That’s not all they have in common though. Cerbini also used to operate his business out of is home.

He used to sell his wares while sitting “in the living room of my house, but now I sit in my shop.”

The owners get creatures available at the shop from Oceans, Reefs & Aquariums LLC (ORA), which is a company based in Fort Pierce.

Cerbini and Martin work second jobs. Martin paints cars at a collision center on U.S. 19. Cerbini works in Tampa.

Martin, who runs Exquisite Aquatics with his wife, said the store’s downtown location gives the business the advantage of attracting foot traffic.

It’s a central location for Martin and Cerbini to reach, and it’s a convenient location for those who don’t want to have to endure a drive to Tampa or elsewhere out of town for their fishy needs.

Martin wants to eventually have a bigger location and be able to quit his second job.

In reference to keeping fish, he said, "I love doing it. It's relaxing." Having fish is "better than watching the TV,” he added.

The shops are open Tuesday through Friday from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. For more information, call 813-325-0118 or 727-992-9859.

Or visit the businesses' Facebook pages at http://www.facebook.com/#!/ExquisiteAquaticsLLC or http://www.facebook.com/#!/ELITECORALS