At Snaggletooth Goby, we’re on a mission to bring people together.
We believe that great retail businesses bring people together to share their passions.
In 2023, Snaggletooth Goby acquired Aquatica, a leading aquarium store in the Chicago suburb of Tinley Park. Snaggletooth Goby continues to invest in Aquatica while also developing other hobbyist-centric business opportunities. We are growing Snaggletooth Goby by focusing on unique retail experiences that connect hobbyists.
I’m Joe Zentmyer, founder of Snaggletooth Goby. I love connecting with people who have a passion for learning. As an experienced entrepreneur, I’m excited to share what I’ve learned, both the easy and the difficult lessons.
Before launching Snaggletooth Goby, I cofounded First Ascent, a Chicago-based climbing and fitness chain. From 2013 to 2022, my partners, investors, and I grew the business to seven locations in multiple markets. Each location was 20,000 to 50,000 square feet in size. We achieved this rapid growth by partnering with lenders, landlords and key vendors to identify and develop only the best locations.
During my time at First Ascent, I was responsible for all aspects of operations, new location development and finance. I also launched and expanded numerous systems (point of sale, payroll, general ledger, social media, website, CRM, etc) while managing our growing team.
As a serial entrepreneur with more than 20 years of experience, I build businesses by developing business managers along with systems that support those managers. I’m very proud of the many young professionals I’ve mentored during my career. My diverse business experience from food manufacturing to rock climbing gyms, gives me a unique perspective and ability to creatively assess every opportunity. I love the process of creating a business and turning a concept into a profitable reality.