In the Know: PetPeople plans first Florida stores in Collier and Lee counties

Q: The Publix store at Neapolitan Way in Naples has a vacant storefront, a former Hallmark store that has been vacant for at least 10 and a half years. There are work crews in the store currently. What is going in that space? For years Publix was supposed to be taking it over but that doesn't seem so. Please advise what’s happening there. We in Park Shore are really curious! Many thanks!

— Anne H., Naples

A: That Naples space will be the first store in Florida for PetPeople, a pet supplies chain based in Columbus, Ohio.

PetPeople plans to open five company stores this year in Collier and Lee counties. In addition to the Naples store next to Publix in the Neapolitan Way shopping center on U.S. 41, stores with dog washes also are in the works for North Naples, Bonita Springs, south Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

“They should all be opened this year,” said Terri Montigny, manager of community relations and marketing for PetPeople. “We are in construction on the Naples Neapolitan store, so that will be our first one open. They are all in various stages of permitting.”

The PetPeople store in the 30-year-old Neapolitan Way is targeted to open in August at 4607 U.S. 41 N. Montgomery Development Carolina Corp., headquartered in Durham, North Carolina, is the general contractor building out the space of the former Ann’s Hallmark Shop in the northwest corner of the shopping center, Florida project manager John Sims said.

Besides this Naples location, PetPeople plans stores in two other Publix-anchored shopping centers in the area. The chain will have a store next to North Naples Veterinary Hospital in Naples Walk retail center on the southeast corner of Airport-Pulling and Vanderbilt Beach roads in North Naples.

Two units will be combined to create the nearly 4,000-square-foot pet store at 2500 Vanderbilt Beach Road, Suite 1106, said Marc Elias, a leasing agent for Regency Centers, which manages Naples Walk.

“We think it will be a good fit for the center and the neighborhood,” Elias said. “They are working on the buildout phase right now.”

Another new pet store is planned next to Komoon Thai Sushi & Ceviche in the Publix-anchored Center of Bonita Springs on the northwest corner of Bonita Beach Road and U.S. 41 in Bonita.

Elsewhere in Lee County, PetPeople will land in the middle of the Shops at Santa Barbara in Cape Coral. Another store will be next to Whole Foods Market at the new Daniels Marketplace retail center under construction on Daniels Parkway in south Fort Myers.

“That’s the one that originally got us down here,” Montigny said. “It’s been an area we just talked about and looked at for a few years. We finally found the right locations to go down there. We are super excited.”

Mike and Trish Elkind opened their first PetPeople store in central Ohio in 2000. The chain of neighborhood stores for pet supplies and natural dog and cat foods has grown to 50 stores that are still owned and operated by the family. About 60 percent of the stores are in Ohio, but the company has expanded to Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and North Carolina. Now it is following Ohio transplants to Southwest Florida.

“We are extremely excited about coming down. I think it will be a good fit for us,” Montigny said.

A unique feature in most PetPeople stores is the “Spaw” self-service dog wash. The store provides the towels, shampoo and dryers for people to bathe their pets. The best part of this service is that store employees clean up afterward.

“We find that people absolutely love them,” Montigny said.

Leashed pets are always welcomed at PetPeople, which is open daily.

“It is the highlight of our day,” Montigny said.

“I am always asked what sets us apart from other pet stores,” she said. “To be honest, it is our people. We have amazing teams that focus on the health and well-being of the pets. We are very aware that one size doesn’t fit all so work hard at finding the right food, treat or item that works for that individual pet and its owner. Our team is well-educated in pet nutrition and our products and love to build long-term relationships with our customers.”

To join the PetPeople team, apply online at petpeoplestores.com. Positions for full-time and part-time employment can be viewed by clicking on the “Jobs” link at the bottom of the company’s website.

“I know that we will be hiring probably over the next month or so,” Montigny said.

Have a local question? Email it with your name and city of residence to intheknow@naplesnews.com. Tim Aten’s "In the Know" is published every Monday and Wednesday. Follow In the Know on Facebook now at facebook.com/timaten.intheknow.

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