This dog owner will never shop there. We are loyal fans of Durty Harrys!

Shopping locally keeps approximately 75% of the money spent in the local economy. While in a non-locally owned store only 43% stays- and that is including assumed donations. When we support our local stores, they can purchase services and supplies from other local businesses.

As very active members of the Charlestown community for the past 3.5 years, Durty Harry's is able to contribute to the overall welfare of the town in ways that these newcomers never can. We have contributed thousands of dollars in total to local youth groups, family fund raisers, parenting associations, and more. We have raised thousands of dollars for rescue organizations like Lucky Lab Rescue and Great Dog Rescue with our fundraisers. We have already carved out the opportunity for pets and their parents to meet, it's called Ruff Week Friday. When you walk into Durty Harry's, we know your name, or at least your dogs name ;-) No matter how it is sliced, this is still a mega-corporation and the personalized shopping experience that is Durty Harry's will not be replicated.
If you want us to carry something, ask, and we'll happily stock it. We can get any line of food, we deliver it for FREE. And though we are a boutique, we price directly against them falling within a $1-$3 price range of them. We are reducing the price of our self-wash to $13 per wash, and with your 7th wash free, we come out to $11.41 per wash so we're $1.41 more than the newcomers.
We have received an overwhelming amount of support from the community which we appreciate so very much. Please continue to shop local and support your small businesses.
With much gratitude, Michelle Fournier - Owner - Durty Harry's Doggie Boutique and Dog Wash

And to add, Durty Harrys has all of the dog-related items and services mentioned in the press release.... and more. Shop Local and support the businesses that support our Charlestown Community!

Hopefully people continue to support local Charlestown businesses first. I don't have a dog but I have stopped into Durty Harry's before and their food selection is amazing. For those that have pets other than a dog, Petco could be very helpful if you are looking for high quality food that might not be sold at the supermarket.

Wow its funny when the shoe is on the other foot. I am sure Dirty Harry's and Michelle are great people but it is just Hilarious to here you all CRY about "THE NEWCOMERS" coming in and things will change. Well like we have heard you time and time again say before oh well, change is good, change is needed.....Now you know a little what we felt like when you all moved in and wanted to change everything the only difference is you are a part of our town now and we will stick by you ,,,, just had to say my 2 cents

FYI...petco is not a corporation. They are privately owned and have no shareholders.

I think anything in the empty spaces in the mall is better than nothing. I'll probably shop at both Dury Harrys and Petco, depending on what I need to buy.

I am all for supporting local businesses, but what local business would have been appropriate for that space? It's big, boxy, and ugly..... hello perfect location for a chain.

If people truly don't want it, it will go out of business and we can make room for another pizza chain... dominos, papa ginos, annnnnnnnnd..... whats next? chuck e cheese!

What about the kitty cats?

Michelle is right that she can provide and match a lot of what unleashed can. But I have been shopping at petco and unleashed for a long time. They price match, they have the rewards program, I have been to unleashed a couple times in Allston and Arlington, and they do a great job at getting to know people(and their dogs). When they do a donation drive the proceeds go to a local charity(or so they tell me when I ask). They work hard to push adoption and rescue. Like Michelle said in an earlier post she made, there is certainly enough business to go around.

It may be privately owned but the majority of the dollars spent there leave Massachusetts. (the headquarters is in San Diego) The approximate 43% that stays in the area includes rent, taxes, wages and anticipated donations. It is a personal choice where to shop. Whenever possible I choose to spend money where it will best fuel the local economy and strengthen the neighborhood. Durty Harry's has proven their commitment to Charlestown by providing locally supplied products. I feel better knowing someone living in Charlestown made my dog's collar. (as an example) So they, in turn, can spend their profits in Charlestown. It is not much but I like the idea.
It is a shame a locally owned diner couldn't have gone into that space. But with the allegedly high rents I guess a new business would need the deep pockets of a national chain.

Ummmm....Petco is very much a corporation with corporate cultures. Although they may not be public (they once were), they are managed through several private equity firms. The goal of these investors is to maximize profits, nothing more. You say tomato, I say tomahto...
I get it, we are a capitalistic society and we believe in free market, the American way. But the American way is also the ability to own a small business without fearing the risk of being squeezed out big
corporations with unlimited resources that us Middle Class don't have access to. Chew on that for a minute....

People need to decide what is right for them. I think Durty Harry's rocks and would not go anywhere else for my dogs! Petco has the right to open here, just as Domino's has the right. It does not mean you have to use their services. Michelle and crew have embraced this community and I intend to embrace them back. Not sure what Make Bunker Hill Day A National Holiday is talking about????

Shop locally!

Hopefully like ever other corporate store that has tried in the "deficit mall" will fail also, all that mall is, a tax write off ! again big corporate business transaction.

P.J's Pet Supply: Better Prices than all mentioned.

The Unleashed concept allows the small boutique feel with a big box backing. I work at an Unleashed in Cali and I know EVERY dog that frequents my shop's name. I know what the people do for a living, where they live, their kids names, I know all sorts of details because I make friends with my customers, We organize amazing events and have helped unite THOUSANDS of pets with new pet parents (you may do adoptions on Fridays but the pets not being shown at your shop deserve homes too! They all do!). We also refer to the small locally owned shops. If someone wants something that we don't carry then we say "hey, why don't you go check out X Boutique, I believe that they have what you're looking for" This isn't "kill or be killed" it is just another place that happens to be doing what you're doing. Just because there is a burger joint in your town doesn't mean that another burger joint shouldn't be allowed to move in, it is good! Honestly, I don't believe that any of our local small shops have been hit very hard with decrease in sales. I even go to those shops from time to time and buy stuff from them or chat with them, tell them what we offer vs what they have. I inform myself on what they carry so that I can refer customers to them that aren't finding what they need at Unleashed and I hope they'll refer to us when they aren't able to satisfy someone's needs. This is good! Unleashed is awesome, just check it out and you'll see.

Really Jimmy you cant see how funny it is that after being here and making their mark in the town and the town supporting them that they dont like to see something "NEW" come in. Like we didn't like the "New people" (that other words is so over used) and change things. Really did i have to explain it for you ??? And Keola like i said now that DH is part of the town we will support her because well we are loyal dogs !!!!

You sure you're not at Cheers, where everyone knows your name? The intent never starts off as "killed or be killed" with Big Box stores....it just happens to end that way. Competition is healthy for the market, if the playing field is level. While I can appreciate your naïveté, if you're not going to get it unless you "own" a small business. The small profits that these owners generate goes to overhead costs, back to the community, and living expenses. The profits that Unleashed generates buy the investors another boat or their 3rd vacation home. This will absolutely impact DH's bottom line, but is Michelle going to have that Big Box backing that Petco has the luxury to tap into? People are already trying to scrape by in this economy, and having another corporation take a piece of the pie, only widens the gap. Think about it, if Petsmart opened up a shop, right across from your place, I'm sure your executive team would be Unhinged (see what I did there?).....my hope is to keep small towns unique with small local business that keeps the community vibrant and have you corporations duke it all on the strip mall....

As always, I will continue to support local business. I'd rather go to Zumes over Dunkins anyday, Durty Harry's over Petco, A&H Hair salon because it's my neighbor in town, Jenny's over Papa Gino's. DH has been wonderful to myself and my dog. I wouldn't think about getting him groomed anywhere else. I love that there is a great sense of community and camaraderie when I stop in. It's a great to meet fellow neighbors and stop and chat for once. I think that's increasingly important in this "busy bee" lifestyle we all seem to have. I have a sense of pride knowing my money isn't getting swept away into a big business. I'll forever support local over corporation any day!

Thank you everyone for the Sat. Morning laughs - good stuff. Long story short, I am 10-13 year toonie and I've seen at least 3-4 stores in that one location. Friendly's, a corporate chain, seemed to last the longest but even that store was barely breaking even the last few years. The retail history there is terrible - DH I don't think you have anything to worry about.

In a show of solidarity, I will be moving my family to a pet food based diet. Buying local will keep my money in town and not help line the pockets of those cronies over there at Food Master HQ in Chelsea.

The british are coming that is a great idea!! I too will take up your cause but instead of putting my family on a dog food diet I will choose a diet that helps even more family's locally JUST the one's living on EBT for Free and Illegal in the "CHP" as its know by my brothers in the Bloods and switch to a strictly crack and heroin diet Keep that money right in the hood shop locally support locally Bubble heads ....

And I will travel backwards in time with my blight cure and prevent the potato famine from ever having happened

Petco won't walk my dog in an emergency when I can't get home quickly. I welcome the free enterprise, but my loyalty is with the local shop owner who bends over backwards, understands recalls and what they mean to my dog, and is friendly, helpful and FUN to shop with. Remember that quality of service is as valuable as quality of products and it's a dying art. We all speak with our dollars. Durty Harry's has earned the right to my business (over and over) and is evidenced by the opening line of this article, the big store is hard to reach, institutionalized and lacks that personal touch. DH has been such a valuable addition to the dog community in our neighborhood, I can't imagine supporting anyone else.