Aaaawwww! God bless Andrea & Ken for providing such luxury living for the sweet kitties. :o) How blessed & lucky they are. I have a very SOFT spot for my feline friends. You guys are awesome.♥

The former owner of Pet Mart on East Main. Hmmmmm.... Was selling cat food over 1 year out of date. Wonder why it went out of business and why they are congratulated for their care of cats when they had none whatsoever of anyone else's. After the fact was pointed out the staff was downright very rude.

How about a few cat ramps to the area roof tops. To get the sea gulls to move on.

Thanks Mardell..... In the ten years Petmart was open countless cats where abandoned at the store or on the property. My wife was able to capture most of these cats if not all of them. Many times after having them fixed she was able to find homes for them. She would always make sure the cats where going to a good home prior to any adoption. The cats nobody wanted became the store cats. After years of these cats being apart of the store and our customers looking forward to seeing them there would be no chance of these cats being left behind. Taking these cats home was not an option as for we already adopted four cats and took them home. Andrea and myself do miss the store, but most of all our customers... even though once in a while there was an idiot.

Andrea/ken Mistler - Kudos to you for taking such wonderful care of those 5 cats. These animals are fortunate to have you!

I always shopped at Pet Mart and loved seeing those big happy cats wandering about the store. One was usually perched on the counter, completely uninterested in all the comings and goings of customers. I'm glad they have a safe place to live thanks to Ken and Andrea.

I too always shopped at Pet Mart and enjoyed the cats that lived there. I never had any issues with product or service!! I am glad Ken and Andrea cared enough to take time and create a nice live in and play area for the cats to enjoy!!

Mr. Mistler, instead of resorting to name calling, why did you not admit or deny the selling of out of date products. That was the accusation that I know is true. When the man that was convicted of stealing from your store was made to stand out in front with a shirt on that said "I stole from Pet Mart" which was a very good punishment for the individual, I believe you should have, as the store owner, been standing next to him with your own sign. I do not know you and actually do not have any cats as pets, however I have a very negative opinion on how you operate businesses and deal with animals. Those of you that support Mr. Mistler, yes it is good that he has taken in unwanted pets, but to put them in a basement of a downtown building? Could there be a code violation? Or is this within reason of the City of Batavia Code? I do not know, that is why I am asking. Ultimately though please answer were you or were you not selling out of date pet food?

Brian here is a thought.... Mind your own business.Any day you would like to compare resumes. I am at the the corner of Jackson and Main st in the gym..I am sitting behind the counter counting the money from the proceeds of selling out dated old crusty cat food. Try climbing from behind the key board you sit at and get a life. The basement the cats are in is 7000 sq feet and according to my calculations that is 15x larger then your trailer.Since you never bought any expired cat food from me you are going on the assumption it was dated. again yourself just being lazy and confrontational you "assumed" this or went on somebody else s supposed find.Again please find me to discuss this matter..and by the way stay out of south beach..the croutons are stale.

If the worst thing that I ever saw one of my cats eat was out dated old crusty cat food, I'd be happy with that. What's the big deal Brian? Were not talking about infant formula here.

Keep up the good work Ken, this area could use a lot more people like you and your wife!

Did I hit a nerve? lol Just to remind you, it was wellness cat food, canned. And I wasn't looking to buy it for myself, it was for someone else. Sorry I don't own a trailer, only my house. So you do actually admit to it? Because I am stating a fact. No assumptions here. Name calling and now trying to threaten me, hmmmm..... I would like to have a decent adult to adult conversation with you but with comments like that I don't think it could be done. Sorry I made it public.

JoAnne, to answer your question the deal is many people treat there pet as there own kids. You ask what the deal is because it's not like infant formula. So the difference is what? It's not ok to injure your child with out of date food but it is with your pets? I was actually a pleasant customer, many times couldn't find the things I was looking for as I do have pets of my own. Only once walked out as the staff was too busy holding there own personal conversation as I left my items on the counter. This is not about me. It is about a prominent business owner in Batavia that is being praised for housing cats in the basement of a downtown former business.

Thanks everyone..... This thread is done!

The thread is done because you say so? Maybe more needs to be looked into the City of Batavia. And to reply on Howards' comment, I am not the one that is digging out of the hole. I have the facts and have just finally brought it out. For those that cannot believe it, just do a little research. Mr. Mistler I hope for you to help bring business back to Batavia, however in an honest way. The way you have responded to the facts of a previous business make me be believe that you will not. Hopefully others will see you as you are. As for the cats, take them to an authorized shelter where a loving family can adopt them and treat them as cats, nurture and care for them, and most of all love them.

WTF are you talking about..?In an honest way? Take the cats to a shelter? You are a moron. Brian I have googled your name...You are a Zero.. I found nothing..Your not even in the phone book.. Which means you have done nothing for your community at all.. I hope for you to help bring business back to Batavia? Damn right you do. What have you done Brian? Your a fake... Sit there and type.. eat bon boms..and collect your monthly check. Leave the decision making to the ones who actually can do things for the community. Until you can step to the plate shut the F--- up.

If Brian ever had a real job in the pet food industry, he would have the knowledge what goes on in that industry. When you deal with truckloads of pet food, such as the Mistler's have done,,and done well, might I add. Tons and tons of food pass through a store like what Kenny has operated. At times there are a few times expired food slips through the cracks, when employees are handling this volume of food. It is surely no big deal, as I am SURE the problem would have been rectified when brought to Kenny's attention. I have also been involved in the pet food retail side of this issue at a large retail store,,and at times have had the same issue. I am sure at some point and time ALL pet food retailers have had this happen to them,,and I am sure have rectified the situation when notified. This is JUST a case of jealousy on Brians part because of Mr. Mistlers success here in Batavia. The ONLY,,the ONLY thing you can come up with Brian is this post is the issue of the pet food,,,so you dwell on iy to try to make Mr. Mister look bad. Who else would EVER surrender such a amount of space, install heat, have ramps,houses, toys built. Not to even mention jackhammer access to the outside, through a basement wall, hire a fence company to install a fence, build shelter outside also, get kitty litter by the pallet??? I have seen this couple take strays in,,before anything is EVER done with them,,spend hundreds of dollars in vet bills to make sure they are healthy, before giving them a life!! Brian,,do us all a favor and go get a job so you have much less time to hassle people who make good things happen,, this is surely a dead horse...as I am SURE,,this is the ONLY thing you can find to bitch about on Mr. Mistlers behalf!! PS Ken's store didn't go out of business for the reasons you try to refer to in your post,,,,he sold it out to someone who wanted the business..he was approached by the current owner,,,NOT the way you see it!!!

Jim, No doubt you are correct in everything you stated in your post. Things happen. Could there be more to that ax that Brian is posting than meets the eye? Maybe yes, maybe no. That said, I have never done business with Mr. Mistler. I'm sure he is a nice guy and he certainly is attempting to enhance downtown Batavia. However, I wonder if this is how Mr. Mistler wants himself portrayed to possible customers? Posted by Ken Mistler on June 26, 2010 - 10:43pm (edited) WTF are you talking about..? You are a moron. Brian I have googled your name... Your a fake... Sit there and type.. eat bon boms..and collect your monthly check. Until you can step to the plate shut the F--- up. After reading this response, I would hesitate going into his establishments for fear of the wrath I would incur if I did have a problem with a product or a service.

Oppps, wrong Brian.

Bea, I believe Brian pushed 1 too many of Ken's buttons. As a matter of fact, I appreciate the fact that Ken isn't trying to be PC and kiss some jerks ass. Good for you Ken. We need a few more folks in this world with some gonads.

Bud, Are you saying that this is your version of good customer service? This is how someone SHOULD be treated, and congratulations are in order? I'm not talking about Brian, I'm talking about any customer who may have an issue to resolve. How are we, the general public, suppose to know what button will send Mr. Mistler off on a tangent? Is everyone, who complains, a jerk ass in your estimation and should they all receive the same response? "We need a few more folks in this world with some gonads.', writes Bud. Interestig that you feel that growing a pair is what this world needs to deal with customers that aren't satisfied with a product or service.

Bea, Are you suggesting that the proper way for a customer to resolve a consumer complaint is to wait a couple of years, then post a comment full of innuendo, directed at the business owner, on an unrelated thread on the Batavian? Anyone that has ever worked in customer service knows that sometimes you have to bite your tongue in order to comply with "the customer is always right" mantra. As hard as it may be for you to believe, there is such a thing as "the customer from hell" who only seeks to get something for nothing and will employ various creative tactics to get it. Mr. Doktor is not Mr. Mistler's customer and we only have his word to say that he ever was. He is seemingly just some guy with an ax to grind that picked a public forum in which to do it. I think Mr. Doktor's comments were as provocative as being physically poked in the chest and I don't blame Mr. Mistler one bit for leveling him with a virtual punch in the mouth.

Thanks Jim... Thanks Bud. My customer service at Petmart ended 17 months ago Bea.. This is Ken Mistler civilian. This is Ken trying to make a point to someone who has know idea what he is talking about. Old cat food? Animal shelters? Sorry I did not sugar coat this... Tangent? Bea it seems that you are the same customer Brian was. Never happy,return items cause your pet did not like the taste, perhaps the store owes "You" a little something extra because you graced us with your presence. Be realistic. As business owners we know nothing is more important than our customers, and i would bend over backwards for all of them, but every so often a Brian and bea comes along and is just not satisfied completely, and as an owner we really want to tell you to go away... but we put up with your crap because the good customers far out weigh the constant complainers... Bea do you really think it was possible we sold some expired cat food to Brian and we would not honer his return.. Someone who vents about this two years later absolutely called that day to complain... do you really think we where to busy chatting to each other and Brian put his items on the counter and walked out..I don't think so... Neither do you. Perhaps a few pointers from you now Bea. I,m sure you cant wait to vent to me some more.. Tell me how I should treat my customers, and please give me your qualifications on why you know better.. cause I really care.......

Posted by Ken Mistler on June 27, 2010 - 5:24pm Bea it seems that you are the same customer Brian was. Never happy,return items cause your pet did not like the taste, perhaps the store owes "You" a little something extra because you graced us with your presence. As I said before, I was never in your store. I don't own a pet. I don't believe a store "owes" me a little something because I graced your presence. Be realistic. As business owners we know nothing is more important than our customers, and i would bend over backwards for all of them, but every so often a Brian and bea comes along and is just not satisfied completely, and as an owner we really want to tell you to go away... but we put up with your crap because the good customers far out weigh the constant complainers... Check your back records, Ken. I never purchased anything in your store. When did I come along for you to want me to go away. Bea do you really think it was possible we sold some expired cat food to Brian and we would not honer his return.. I believe you would if that was the case. Someone who vents about this two years later absolutely called that day to complain... do you really think we where to busy chatting to each other and Brian put his items on the counter and walked out..I don't think so... Neither do you. Perhaps a few pointers from you now Bea. I,m sure you cant wait to vent to me some more.. Tell me how I should treat my customers, and please give me your qualifications on why you know better.. cause I really care....... Actually, you don't care and we both know that. My issue wasn't with Brian or his real or perceived problem. He was out of line. I read your replies and read what Jim had to say about you. I have no reason not to believe that it isn't all true. You have demonstrated that you are an astute business person and that you are doing your best to revitalize Main St. My concern was with the tone of your reply (and now reading how you put me in the same category as Brian and how you KNOW I'm a bad customer), I wouldn't be surprise to hear the same if I did have an issue. Part of my job was customer service to my clients, which included MSNBC; NBC; CNBC; TLC; SLIMFAST; DISCOVERY CHANNEL; HBO; BIOGRAPHY; THE HISTORY CHANNEL; AOL; MINI COOPER; KRAFT FOODS, TULANE UNIVERSITY; and more. It is ironic that, early this morning, I gave credit to those who run a retail business http://www.thebatavian.com/blogs/bea/time-what/17360 in a piece that was meant to be humorous, but had some hard truths to it as well. I respect the retail business person. I don't envy much that they endure in the course of the day. But, I know tht one should never be afraid to speak up if they feel that there is a problem. If that makes me a bad customer, then so be it.

Bea said " Bud, Are you saying that this is your version of good customer service? This is how someone SHOULD be treated, and congratulations are in order? I'm not talking about Brian, I'm talking about any customer who may have an issue to resolve. Bea- as a veteran of many years spent in retail, hotels, restaurants, and golf resorts as some sort of customer facing representative, I would say 99% of the customers I dealt with were extremely happy with the level of service provided. I was an employee of the year at 2 different hotels in Phoenix, and loved interacting with people. A good customer relations person relishes the challenge of turning that frustrated customer into a friend. But there is ALWAYS that 1% out there. Brian fits into that category. There's more to the story,but that's for him to deal with. My point is, we all have a threshold, and I think to be blindsided by an unsubstantiated allegation was Ken's breaking point. I will say, I do not believe it was fair to attack you Bea. It did come across harsh, and I don't believe you would publicly admonish a business owner on this sight nearly 2 years after the fact, as Mr. Doktor did. And it really sucks that this turned from a nice, fuzzy warm story to some negative BS.

The only thing I have to say,,and I have been around awhile ans am a good judge of character. The only reason and motive Brian chose this venue to air his coplaint against Mr. Mister is just plain old jealousy..no other reason to drag something as trivial into the public spotlight. There is NO other reason than that..plain and simple. I have known Mr.Mistler for about 6-7 years,,he has always made things right on his behalf on ANYTHING he has done. If you thought you had to steal from him,,you would be wrong,,just ask and he would see you got it one way or another. Mr. Mistler works from sun up till sun down and then some, everyday to make the things he has possible,,not to mention it is 7 days a week!! When Brian made the statement about "sorry I made it Public" it was clear to me what his agenda was, to try to make the public see Mr. Mistler in a negative way,, at which I am sure he failed. The only one who Brian sucked in was Bea,,and don't take that the wrong way Bea..I put my reputaion forth to say,,You would have no problems with Ken at any of his establishments,,unless of course you act like Brian did with his unsubstatiated accusations. I have also worked in the public sector dealing with the public for over 20 years,,and remember ONE thing,,the customer is not always right well maybe one more thing" don't poke the bear!!!

Thanks, Jim and Bud, and even Ken. Ken has already earmarked me as someone he would not want in his establishments. I'll make sure that I stay away. Brian, as I said before, must have issues we aren't aware of and, quite frankly, I don't want to know. Bud, I appreciate your expertise in the retail end of busiess. It is something I'm learning as I go. Yes, customer service - both your outside customers and your inside customers (your coworkers) can be challenging. Jim, I appreciate your loyalty to Ken. In order to receive that loyalty, he obviously has good qualities.

Bea, Ken's businesses depends on his reputation. You can't see how a guy who has poured his life into downtown might be less than PC when he is attacked like this in public? I have shopped at the pet store and have been a member of the gym next door on and off for years. They were both good businesses and I never had a problem. I'll also be rejoining the new gym when it gets a little colder out, the place looks great!

It is very easy for people to be critical and take digs at people behind their computer. What most people don't understand is that small business owners, like Ken put everything they have in their businesses, not only money, but time, sacrafice and their life! Small business owners sometimes can't put todays work off til tomorrow, we don't collect a paycheck on Friday. We have to earn it and make it happen. I can understand Mr. Mistler becoming upset because his businesses are his passion as well as his lively hood! It isn't (small business) for everyone and NO ONE should knock anyone until you walked a mile in their shoes. I remember I would walk into the pet store and ask for advice on food, training or what not for my new puppy and Louie or Kenny would always take a minute and help. In fact I remember on a few occasions walking in and seeing Ken cleaning the fish tanks and I ask why he was doing such a task, he said they were short staffed for some reason or another and it had to get done. I have known Kenny for a few years now and he is somebody that pours his life in what he is doing and will do any job that needs done to keep the business going. I am looking forward to South Beach reopening and will hopefully be there opening night to support him in his venture and everyone should as well because I don't see to many people investing in Batavia!

Bea, Is there anyway you can make a clear break or note when you re-post a post to find where your answer starts easier? I wanted to read your replay to Ken, but when re-post complete posts that are also long, it takes a bit to find where you answer starts. For those of us who do not want to read the other persons whole post again, just yours, it would be helpful. Maybe there is noway to make it easier and if so, fine. But if there is, it would be nice.

My only comment to Mr.Mistler is how do you get to keep you assessment so low on that building..105 Main St. is only assessed at 40,000 dollars..I would like to get mine that low...

Kudos to you Ken and Andrea...I wish I had a place sufficient for all my strays that I have taken on so that I wouldnt get dander all over...but anyway just a public thank you to you both. There were times when I had a hard time and needed food desparatly and you guys came through for me... no other store would do this...miss the store...miss you guys...ty