Don and Chris Vondriska have expanded their pet goods shop. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Dogs have something new to bark about at Stony Point Fashion Park.
Local pet store Fido Park Avenue has expanded with a second store, opening earlier this month in a 2,000-square-foot space at the Southside mall.
Fido Park Avenue sells a variety of specialty dog treats.
Fido Park Avenue sells dog leashes, treats and apparel, as well as dog-themed gifts like ornaments and wine glasses. Owners Don and Chris Vondriska opened their first location in 2009 in Short Pump at the Shoppes at Westgate in a 1,000-square-foot space. They expanded earlier this year to a 3,000-square-foot space at 11761 W. Broad St. in the same shopping center.
Don Vondriska, 63, said the move to Stony Point has long been in the works, and the closure of dog treats store Three Dog Bakery at the mall earlier this year created an opening.
“When the opportunity arose at the end of August to have a second location, we jumped on it,” he said. “We’ve always wanted to be there to serve the dog community which frequents that mall. It’s a destination for dog owners.”
Stony Point, which allows dogs on the premises, is also destined for some renovations. The 12-year-old mall is getting a $50 million upgrade from its new owners, Chicago-based Starwood Retail Partners, which bought the property last year.
Holiday leashes and collars are on the shelves at the new shop.
Vondriska said he and his wife have invested more than six figures into Fido Park Avenue this year, and it is all self-financed. He said the company, which has 10 employees, has grown every year, in part because it tries to sell items that are hard to find at bigger stores.
Smaller shops that have struggled, Vondriska said, include “those that only focus on food, because there are such big chains that sell food.”
“We focus on items that aren’t sold in the big-box stores,” he said.
He said top sellers at Fido Park Avenue include leashes, which range from $22 to $75, as well the hundreds of treats the shop sells each week. Fido Park Avenue does not sell its wares online. Vondriska said he prefers to have patrons come to the stores to touch products and get good customer service.
Looking ahead, Fido Park Avenue plans to grow from its current location, at least temporarily. It will open a temporary kiosk at Regency Square Mall on Black Friday.
Don and Chris Vondriska have expanded their pet goods shop. Photos by Michael Thompson.
Dogs have something new to bark about at Stony Point Fashion Park.
Local pet store Fido Park Avenue has expanded with a second store, opening earlier this month in a 2,000-square-foot space at the Southside mall.
Fido Park Avenue sells a variety of specialty dog treats.
Fido Park Avenue sells dog leashes, treats and apparel, as well as dog-themed gifts like ornaments and wine glasses. Owners Don and Chris Vondriska opened their first location in 2009 in Short Pump at the Shoppes at Westgate in a 1,000-square-foot space. They expanded earlier this year to a 3,000-square-foot space at 11761 W. Broad St. in the same shopping center.
Don Vondriska, 63, said the move to Stony Point has long been in the works, and the closure of dog treats store Three Dog Bakery at the mall earlier this year created an opening.
“When the opportunity arose at the end of August to have a second location, we jumped on it,” he said. “We’ve always wanted to be there to serve the dog community which frequents that mall. It’s a destination for dog owners.”
Stony Point, which allows dogs on the premises, is also destined for some renovations. The 12-year-old mall is getting a $50 million upgrade from its new owners, Chicago-based Starwood Retail Partners, which bought the property last year.
Holiday leashes and collars are on the shelves at the new shop.
Vondriska said he and his wife have invested more than six figures into Fido Park Avenue this year, and it is all self-financed. He said the company, which has 10 employees, has grown every year, in part because it tries to sell items that are hard to find at bigger stores.
Smaller shops that have struggled, Vondriska said, include “those that only focus on food, because there are such big chains that sell food.”
“We focus on items that aren’t sold in the big-box stores,” he said.
He said top sellers at Fido Park Avenue include leashes, which range from $22 to $75, as well the hundreds of treats the shop sells each week. Fido Park Avenue does not sell its wares online. Vondriska said he prefers to have patrons come to the stores to touch products and get good customer service.
Looking ahead, Fido Park Avenue plans to grow from its current location, at least temporarily. It will open a temporary kiosk at Regency Square Mall on Black Friday.
My boys, Judah and Pedro, are going to love coming to your new location! Can’t wait to check it out!
Fantastic news. We regularly frequented Three Dog Bakery and were really sad when they left. Looking forward to this. I will say though, don’t make food a second thought. We spent much more on treats and chews than other items.