Your Take: Petco Announces Aug. Opening Date
Our readers argue for and against Petco coming to town.
It should come as no surprise that our story Friday about Petco announcing the opening date for its Bunker Hill Mall store generated a fair amount of conversation.
Most locals took a sharp tongue toward Petco's small-format Unleashed store, instead backing locally-owned pet boutique Durty Harry's.
Here are a few choice comments:
"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... Shop locally!"
—Jim Mansfield
"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."
—Just a Person
"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)."
—Informed Citizen
"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."
—Keola
"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."
—Betsey M
Toonie
8:14 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
I completely agree that they have every right to be here and good on them if they do survive. However this dog owner won't ever step foot in Unleashed.
David Charbonneau
11:53 am on Monday, August 13, 2012
It's hard enough for small businesses to succeed...especially in Charlestown where it is hard to gauge what will work and what won't. It seems to me that the "big boxes" look at what has proved to be successful and then jump in once the risk of failure seems to be low. While I believe it to be a smart business decision, I don't think that it should come at the expense of ruining the small business that originally proved the concept to be a success. Michelle put her future on the line and went for her dream...not Petco/Unleashed. I myself would only support Durty Harry's provided that they continue to provide great customer service. If you support Unleashed I believe you are telling small business owners to stay out of Charlestown, and that is very sad.
Jay K.
3:39 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Count another one in the same column as Toonie and David. I don't have a pet, so I can't find much reason to directly support Durty Harry's. But I'll be sure to send business their way if I can. Best of luck Durty Harry's.
Just a person!
3:52 pm on Monday, August 13, 2012
Think we beat this dog to death.
Just accept the fact petco is here, hopefully they will not get enough business to pay the outrageous rent ther and close.
I personally own three cats, and don't really care about what they have to offer!
Buy my cat food at stop&shop and they are very happy with the menu.
Everyone that I have spoke to say they will not support petco so it looks like we will just have to wait and see.
But, enough is enough just like dominoes it's here and it's life depends on how many
Flip-flop people we have in the town.
former petco employee
6:59 am on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
If you shop at petco I'd recommend not using your credit card, cash only, unless you like the hassle of having to change your credit card number, bank account,...
Dan
6:44 pm on Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Just got a note from the city for a board of appeal meeting Sept 11. Looks like someone is opening up a second veterinary practice for 330 - 340 Main st.
Why is C-Town becoming such a hot market for Pets?