Neil Padron Petland Discounts Founder Dies All Stores Closing

Neil Padron founder of New York’s largest privately-owned chain pet store in the New York area died of bladder cancer on Jan. 14, 2019.  He was 74 years old.

Padron opened the first Petland Discounts store in Sept. 1965 in Queens, New York. Initially, the pet store sold aquatic merchandise and tropical fish. The store grew to 118 locations and grew to sell birds, reptiles, small animals and live fish. The also offered pet supplies.

Padron was involved in charity work and raised for The Humane Society, North Shore Animal League, and small shelters hundreds of thousands of dollars. Pardon also used Petland Discounts to help adopt animals.

The Petland Discounts founder and his commercials were well known throughout the tri-state area. The slogan “Petland Discounts, at Petland we care” ran in the 80s through the 90s. In the late 90s to 2000s, the slogan switched to “Petland Discounts, for the best care a pet can get.”

Pardon was the first retailer to be inducted into the Pet Industry Hall of fame in 2003.

Padron leaves behind his wife Joan and daughters Lisa and Amy.

After the death of Padron, it was announced on Jan. 31 that Petland Discounts Inc. would be closing all areas across the tri-state area. All stores are expected to close by April 18 according to paperwork filed with the state Labor Department.  The store closing will leave 367 people unemployed.

Liquidation of store merchandise will begin in March. Items will be available for half price. On Jan. 31 the company website was offline with a message reading “our website is currently under construction.

Written by Barbara Sobel
Edited by Cathy Milne-Ware

Sources:

Patch: Petland Discounts Closing All Stores, Including 8 On Long Island
Newsday: Neil Padron, founder of Petland Discounts, dies at 74
Pix 11: Petland Discounts closing NY, NJ and Connecticut stores after founder dies: reports
NJ.com: Petland Discounts to close 10 N.J. stores after owner’s death
Pet Product News: President and Owner of Petland Discounts Dies

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