HOULTON, Maine — For 25 years, Richard and Jean Sloat of Hodgdon have operated Jean’s Serendipity and Fish N’ Friends in downtown Houlton.
The Sloats are now making plans for a new beginning with the business following the Christmas shopping season, including a potential new owner.
“This is not a business closing, it is a business reincarnation,” Jean said. “There will be a store-wide clearance between now and Christmas to make room for the new changes and a remodel that will take place. Please be patient during these changes after Christmas. All pet store needs and feeds (crickets) will be attended to during any remodel that will take place.”
Beginning as a gift store, Jean’s Serendipity expanded over the years to include kids toys, pet and equine supplies, a JC Penney Catalog Store, ice cream, fudge, beer and wine kits, and lastly embroidery and a heat press.
It was 25 years ago in October that they began this business endeavor with the purchase of “Sneakies” on the Bangor Road in Houlton. The business was then moved to downtown Houlton, and renamed “Jean’s Serendipity.”
The pet store business, Fish N’ Friends, was added in 1998, and is currently the only full-line pet store in Aroostook County. Today, they have more than 40 fish tanks stocked with a variety of fish, both fresh and saltwater. They also have lizards, birds, rabbits, hamsters, other pets, and the food to feed them, (packaged and alive). Being a full-line pet store, they also have supplies for all pets: cages, bedding, toys, treats, grooming accessories.
A children’s section has been part of the business since 1997 when an offshoot of the Serendipity store opened up as “Serendipity for Kids.” This was a separate store that Jean started with her daughters Erica and Katie. Today there is still a variety of Melissa and Doug toys, science and education gifts and games, animal figurines, breyer horses, and puzzles.
Since starting their most recent endeavor in 2015, Hidden Spring Winery, the Sloats have been working many hours at the Serendipity store in Houlton and at the Hodgdon winery, and are now ready to focus more on the winery.
There will be some changes taking place at Jean’s Serendipity moving forward. The embroidery and heat press machine will be moved to Hidden Spring Winery, where they will continue to serve their existing and new customers. The remaining business will begin a transformation to something newer with innovative ideas from a younger generation.
The couple said they were excited to see the changes that will be coming in the future for the business they started. They hope the loyal customers will be as supportive in this new generation, as they were with them.
The Sloats have enjoyed the last 25 years of meeting new people and experiencing the journey of retail. Traveling south to Florida, West to Denver, and down to the big city of New York for toy fairs and always bringing back unique inventory to Houlton.
The Sloats said they wish to thank everyone from the local community and across Aroostook County who have supported their business over the years.
