“How’s the turtle food this week?”
That’s the first thing Rocky asks Adrian in Rocky when he steps into J&M Tropical Fish. This run-down little pet shop wasn’t just a set—it was a real, functioning pet store in Philadelphia for decades.
Unfortunately, like many other small businesses in the area, J&M Tropical Fish eventually shut down. By the time Rocky Balboa rolled around in 2006, it was already boarded up. In that film, Rocky and Paulie take a sentimental tour of their old stomping grounds, and Rocky peers into the dusty, boarded-up windows of the shop where Adrian once worked. It’s a tough moment for fans—another piece of the past slipping away.
The Story Behind J&M Tropical Fish
J&M Tropical Fish was originally founded by Morris Marks and later co-owned by his son Joseph Marks, a Kensington local. Joseph, along with his nephew, has an amazing claim to fame—he’s the caretaker of Rocky’s famous turtles, Cuff and Link, since their first appearance in the 1976 film.
If you didn’t already know, those same turtles made a comeback in Rocky Balboa—30 years later! Yep, the real Cuff and Link reprised their roles, proving they’ve got just as much longevity as their owner.
Although the movie makes it seem like Rocky bought the turtles at J&M Tropical Fish, the truth is a little different. The film crew actually left the female turtles at the shop after wrapping up their Philadelphia shoot.
The Pet Shop’s Role in Rocky
The interior and exterior of this 1920s-era building were both used for filming—something that rarely happened during the 1975 production.
And yes, just like in the film, there really was a basement where Adrian headed down to clean out the cat cages. This shop is also where audiences first met Butkus, Rocky’s beloved dog, seen patiently waiting in a cage.
Joseph Marks, the real-life owner, even kept a J&M sign created by the film’s set designers. And while Talia Shire (Adrian Balboa) has joked about the “pungent” experience of filming in a working pet shop, fans still consider this spot an essential stop on the ultimate Rocky tour.
The Sad Fate of J&M Tropical Fish
For years, fans of Rocky visited J&M Tropical Fish, peeking through the bars and windows to get a glimpse of history. But unlike Mighty Mick’s Gym or Lucky 7 Tavern, which still stood for a while in their abandoned states, the pet shop didn’t survive.
In 2017, J&M Tropical Fish was bulldozed. While some other boarded-up buildings in the area remain, this little piece of Rocky history is now gone for good.
