Press Release

Press release from Northwest Daily Herald, January 29, 1999.  

by KIM MIKUS

Specialized fish business opens its doors to public

A Wheeling business owner recently opened his doors to serious fish hobbyists.

Chris Beal of Buffalo Grove owns and operates The Marine Connection, a business that has served aquarium maintenance technicians for the past year and a half.

Bea, who runs the business with his wife, Vicki, is now open to the general public on the weekends.

The shop, at 1111 W. Dundee Road, specializes in saltwater fish.  Beal receives direct shipments from all over the world, including Hawaii, the Red Sea, Bali, Fiji, the Caribbean and Tonga.  The business is now beginning to feature exotic freshwater fish as well.

The fish range in price from $5 to $500.  A selection on the top end would include the Hawaiian dragon moray, a white and orange striped fish with a long, dragon-like face.

Beal usually carries between 50 and 100 different types of fish at one time.  he can get just about any type of fish, but usually has about 500 regulars that he chooses from.

Beal's interest in fish developed about 13 years ago when he worked in a pet store.  "I was intrigued by saltwater fish," said Beal, who grew up in Arlington Heights. 

This interest grew when he was in the military stationed in Hawaii, where he had an opportunity to do a lot of diving.  In 1995, he returned to this area and attended business classes at Harper College in Palatine.

The idea for the business originated here.  He originally thought he would run an aquarium maintenance firm.

While developing a business plan for class, he found that the maintenance contractors were having a difficult time finding the fish they wanted.  Beal decided on the idea for the wholesale fish company. 

He believes the key to his business is the care that he gives the fish.  "The quality of fish makes a difference," Beal said.

He explained that he picks up the fish from the airport and then takes extreme care in getting them adjusted to their new tank and water.  Much like people suffering from jet lag after flying, Beal said the fish can become sick from the flight.  It takes several days of care, which includes giving them oxygen, to get them back to normal.

Beal, 29 , said his store is not for the beginner, but rather for the serious hobbyist.

The business is open to the public from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. **