An extended-running St. Catharines pet retailer has struck out by itself below a brand new identify.
Backyard Metropolis Pets (previously Petland) positioned at 318 Ontario St., has been a pet retailer for greater than 20 years.
It was referred to as Henley Pets till 2000, when Jennifer and Garth Burman took over and the store was renamed Petland. This 12 months, when it got here time to resume the contract with the Petland franchise, Jennifer mentioned they determined to go impartial. And with that call got here a brand new identify: Backyard Metropolis Pets.
Jennifer defined, whereas they’ve been affiliated with the Petland franchise, it is extra well-known in Western Canada. She mentioned they had been Ontario’s solely Petland location.
When making an attempt to provide you with the brand new identify, she mentioned they needed to search out one thing easy. “I had the employees assist me and had been making an attempt to determine names,” she mentioned. “And since that is the Backyard Metropolis … we needed one thing that got here off the tongue straightforward. Garth had mentioned a very long time in the past, he appreciated the identify (Backyard Metropolis Pets), so that is what we ended up selecting.”
Jennifer mentioned the brand new identify has brought about some confusion with patrons, however she desires them to know they’ll anticipate the identical customer support after they go to. “It is nice that we have been right here for therefore lengthy as a result of all people type of is aware of us,” she mentioned. “It was slightly little bit of a problem to rename it. I do have individuals pondering it is not us nonetheless, and in order that was an enormous factor. A whole lot of prospects would say, ‘is it the identical homeowners, similar stuff?’ It was like, ‘Sure, sure, sure, it is all the identical.’”
Whereas Backyard Metropolis Pets carries merchandise for cats and canine, they’re well-known for his or her fish. And that may proceed.
A darkish room off to the aspect of the primary retailer options dozens of tanks providing fish of all kinds and sizes. In addition they supply a number of aquatic vegetation and reptiles. “After we took over the shop, we purchased it again in 2000, it already had this fish (room),” Jennifer mentioned. “So, lots of people in the neighborhood already knew that they might come right here and get fish.” Her husband Garth has been conserving fish since he was seven years outdated, so he is their “fish man.”
“So far as reptiles go, we simply wish to carry slightly little bit of every part so our prospects can really feel that they’ve a alternative between reptiles and fish,” she mentioned, including they use native breeders when attainable.
Other than the pets with scales, in addition they supply small furry animals resembling hamsters and guinea pigs. Jennifer mentioned ferrets have been notably in style for the reason that starting of the pandemic.
The shop would not be itself if it weren’t for Noah, a green-winged macaw, who has been with the Burmans for many of his life. Born in 1999, Noah resided at one other Petland the Burmans owned, till they moved him to St. Catharines in 2000. He is been there ever since and serves as the shop’s mascot.
Whereas neither of them had been born in Niagara, Jennifer mentioned she’s pleased to name St. Catharines house.
“I really like this space,” she mentioned. “It is one among my favourite areas to be. I really like all of the wineries and the paths, there’s simply a lot to do. We’ve got an actual nice buyer base and we actually attempt to develop relationships with our prospects. So to maintain (the shop) right here simply means a lot to us.”
