One of Temple's most beloved downtown attractions will soon be closing its doors for good.

According to a Facebook post from The Fish Bowl Pet Express' official page, the beloved downtown landmark began clearing their inventory on Tuesday, January 2.

If you grew up in or around Temple, chances are a trip to The Fish Bowl was a part of your weekend routine. It certainly was for me. My mother and I would get up early on Saturday, have breakfast, then hit the Temple Public Library and the Book Cellar before taking the short walk east to the Fish Bowl. It was like our own little zoo right here in Temple.

There were always hundreds of beautiful birds, rodents, reptiles, and fish to stare at in amazement. The selection grew over the years, and the last time I went, my editor and I took photos of the many gorgeous exotic creatures on display. You'll find them in the photo gallery above.

"We've been so blessed to be a part of this community, and we treasure the memories," owner Seleese Thompson said in a phone interview Wednesday. Thompson said the decision to close Fish Bowl reflects a changing business model and thanked the Temple community for their years of support.

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