Critters, Reptiles & Exotics Brings the Wild Side to Frederick
A lifelong dream took shape in Frederick when Critters, Reptiles & Exotics officially opened its doors on Aug. 26, 2025. Owned and operated by Frederick native Chris Enders and his father, Bob, the store is more than a pet shop—it’s an interactive, zoo-like experience designed to educate and inspire the community about the animal world.
For Chris, the opening was years in the making. Growing up with asthma kept him from sports, but it gave him time to fall in love with Animal Planet and the late Steve Irwin, “The Crocodile Hunter.” On his very first date with his wife more than a decade ago, she asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. Without hesitation, Chris answered: “Open a pet store.”
That dream became reality this summer, when Critters, Reptiles & Exotics welcomed its first customers to explore a store filled with snakes, lizards, amphibians, small mammals, birds, and—soon—freshwater and saltwater fish. From jungle-dwelling reptiles to desert species, every animal has a thoughtfully designed enclosure and a story to tell.
“I wanted the store to feel more like an educational adventure than just a place to shop,” said Enders. “Each habitat has a QR code you can scan to learn more about the animal, watch videos and understand what proper care looks like. Too many people get pets on impulse without the right knowledge—we want to change that.”
The shop is also designed with families and children in mind. A special birthday party room lets kids meet and interact with animals in a safe, engaging way, while the upcoming Junior Zookeeper after-school program will give students hands-on opportunities to learn about animal care and responsibility.
Inside, visitors can meet animals like Carmen, a seven-foot boa constrictor who was rescued from a breeding operation earlier this year. Once confined to a box, Carmen now has room to climb, stretch and even rest across Chris’s shoulders when greeting guests.
Chris’s father, Bob, recalls that the family always had animals in the house—whether it was a neighbor’s injured robin that Chris’s mother nursed back to health or the many pets that sparked his son’s lifelong passion. “Caring for animals has always come naturally to him,” Bob said.
Critters, Reptiles & Exotics is located on East Street in Frederick and is open seven days a week.
Official Ribbon Cutting
The store will host its official ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Oct. 17 at 10:30 a.m., inviting community members to celebrate, tour the store and meet its many unusual residents.
“There’s always a new adventure waiting at Critters, Reptiles & Exotics,” Chris said. “We can’t wait to share it with Frederick.”