After 45 years, the last of Bert van Zandbeek’s items will be sold on Saturday in pet store Sammy in Vught. Due to a ruling by the Council of State, he could not have his shop taken over or sold on. “It is a voluntary choice to stop, but it hurts that I have to close my business after all these years,” says owner Bert. “I did shed some tears.”
In 1977, the then 18-year-old Bert started the shop together with his father in an outbuilding next to their house on the Adriaan Poortersstraat in Vught. “We used to have a lot of animals at home. Chickens, rabbits, pigeons and even a horse. I have been an animal lover since childhood, so when this property became available, I really wanted to start my own business.”
But after quite a few successful years, it turned out that according to the zoning plan, no shop was allowed at all in that location. The municipality of Vught therefore wanted Bert to close his business. He did not just allow that and went to the Council of State. At the beginning of 2018, he decided that Bert could keep his business open until he stops himself. And that moment has now arrived.
“I realize that everything I do today is the last time. That feels really crazy. And also difficult after all these years”, he tells the last things to his regular customers. “The store was like a child to me. Sammy is in my heart.”
“Sammy’s is a household name in Vught and residents have to miss that now.”
Bert has thought long and hard about closing his shop. He was therefore not allowed to take over the business or sell it on as a pet store. It was either stop or continue. “I find that the most difficult, because the store could have existed for at least another thirty years. It is really a household name in Vught and residents should now miss that.”
Still, Bert felt that after all these years it was time to choose for himself. “The pet store is in my heart, so I was here every day. Also on weekends and evenings. But because of that, I hardly had time for fun things, my family and grandchildren all those years,” he says. “Now that I’m retiring, I can finally do things I never could before. Like babysitting my grandchildren or going to the market in the village, for example.”
“His pet store looked like a community center at times.”
De Vughtenaar has received a lot of flowers, cards and presents in recent days. The 6-year-old Roos also came by to give a homemade card. “I wanted to do something for Bert, because he is so nice to everyone. I came here for things for my fish, but I could always have a nice chat with him. I am sorry that it is no longer so easy.”
Many regular customers will miss Bert and his pet store. The store is still stocked with pet food, toys, dog leashes and more, so many customers come to do their shopping for the last time. “Sammy, because that’s what everyone calls him, was really knowledgeable. But his pet store also looked like a community center at times, so cozy that it was there. It is a shame that we have to miss that in Vught, “says regular customer and former trainee Elke.
