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Dog fight between neighborhood pet stores and PETCO hits City Hall this week

Back in January, a dog fight began brewing between Richmond District neighborhood pet stores and pet store chain PETCO, who wants to open one of their PETCO: Unleashed stores in the space at 5411 Geary near 18th Avenue.

The 5,000 square foot retail space used to be a Walgreens and has been empty for nearly two years. However the small pet store owners in the neighborhood fear that the larger PETCO chain will quickly drive them out of business.

After some heated exchanges at neighborhood meetings, the battle makes its way to City Hall this week in a series of three meetings, culminating in PETCO appearing before the Planning Commission on Thursday to get approval for their conditional use permit.

Readying the battle plan for the Richmond District pet stores is John Todgya, owner of B&B Pet Supplies on Geary near 12th Avenue.

Todgya is President of the Save the San Francisco Pet Store Coalition, formed over a year ago to battle another large chain, Pet Food Express, which eventually opened on California Street near Presidio Avenue.

In addition to the Richmond District’s pet stores that include B&B, Cal’s Pet Supply (California near 22nd) and Pet’s Corner (Arguello and Geary), the coalition represents small pet stores from all over the city of San Francisco.

Todgya says they’ve collected 4,500 signatures from customers and supporters, asking the city to block PETCO from moving into the Richmond District.

“Clearly, PetCo has seen a market and is making a move to put my store and the others out of business,” Todgya said back in January.

On Monday at 1pm, the issue will come before the Land Use & Economic Development Committee of the Board of Supervisors, on which Richmond District Supervisor Eric Mar sits.

Monday’s committee meeting (agenda; see item #7) will consider Mar’s proposed ordinance to amend several San Francisco Planning Code Sections, including one to “prohibit formula retail pet supply stores and formula retail eating and drinking uses in the Geary Boulevard Fast-Food Subdistrict.”

In other words, Mar wants to ban any formula pet retailers, like PETCO, from moving in on Geary Boulevard between 14th and 28th avenues.

The legislation, Mar told the SF Examiner in March, is “to protect the several small mom-and-pop pet-supply businesses already in the neighborhood.”

Todgya says that he and many other pet store owners in the coalition will be at the Land Use Committee meeting to speak in support of the legislation during the public comment period.

If the Land Use Committee supports Mar’s legislation, they’ll send it forward as a Committee Report to the Tuesday Board of Supervisors meeting at 2pm (agenda; see item #40). Public comment is not allowed at that meeting, but if Mar’s ordinance is passed by the Board of Supervisors, it will send a strong message to the Planning Commission who meets on Thursday.


The location Petco is considering at 5411 Geary, formerly a Walgreens.

The final dog fight will take place at Thursday’s Planning Commission meeting, where PETCO is seeking final approval of their conditional use permit for 5411 Geary.

Both sides will have a chance to speak before the Planning Commission, and Todgya, who will again bring out his coalition in force, says he expects a final decision on the issue at the meeting.

Todgya warns that PETCO’s presence in the neighborhood means an end to the smaller pet stores like his B&B Pet Supplies. He says PETCO will quickly drain the smaller pet stores of their customer base.

“They will poach the customers that we have worked so hard for. It’s not fair for them to come poach them,” he said.

He says their primary strategy for poaching will be price wars. “They’ll undercut our prices until we go out of business, then raise them and the neighborhood is held hostage by their business,” because PETCO will be the only place to shop, Todgya warns.

Todgya says that he and his smaller pet store compatriots don’t have the buying power of a PETCO. “We are running on mom and pop household finances versus conglomerate corporate budgets like PETCO has.”

When asked what should move into the 5,000 square foot space at 5411 Geary, which most mom and pop businesses could not sustain, Todgya replies that it doesn’t really matter too much, “as long as it’s new to the neighborhood.” He says there are already enough pet stores in the Richmond District.

Todgya claims there has been interest in the 5411 Geary space from other businesses since PETCO came sniffing around. He says the landlord could get “more creative” to help entice potential tenants, such as lowering the rent marginally, or cutting the space in half and finding two tenants.

Todgya and the other pet store owners have reason to be concerned about calling the larger PETCO their neighbor. Since Pet Food Express opened on California and Presidio earlier this year – a full mile and half from Todgya’s B&B Pet Supplies – he’s feeling the pinch.

“We’ve lost 15 to 20% of our business since Pet Food Express opened,” Todgya says.

Sarah B.


The interior of a PETCO Unleashed store in Hillcrest, CA

19 Comments

  1. “When asked what should move into the 5,000 square foot space at 5411 Geary, which most mom and pop businesses could not sustain, Todgya replies that it doesn’t really matter too much, “as long as it’s new to the neighborhood.” He says there are already enough pet stores in the Richmond District.

    Todgya claims there has been interest in the 5411 Geary space from other businesses since PETCO came sniffing around. He says the landlord could get “more creative” to help entice potential tenants, such as lowering the rent marginally, or cutting the space in half and finding two tenants. ”

    I guess Mr. Todgya believes the rights of US citizens only belongs to him and him alone – to heck with customer choice and the freedom for other businesses to move in. This small minded thinking is why that vacant Walgreens will remain a blight for the next 20 years. Really, Mr. Todgya, if you want the landlord to split that property up, why don’t you and your fellow loonies collect some money have give the landlord the money to split up that property. The landlord is most likely losing money on the property for two years now. I doubt he wants to pour more money into splitting up the building only to have you and your NIMBY business veto another prospective tenant.

    What’s considered “new to the neighborhood?” Who gets to determine that? I guess if they turned that building into a mausoleum, that would be new, wouldn’t it?

    I’m taking my pet supply needs to another store who isn’t afraid of a little competition.

  2. I hope Petco moves in despite these silly store owners wishes. If you can’t handle competition- you aren’t a true business owner! I will still shop at my local pet store and would probably never step foot in the PetCo but I do wish them luck in opening and bringing a storefront to a blighted neighborhood building.

  3. I used to shop at B&B but after seeing how adamant they are about keeping my prices high I won’t be back there again. Trader Joe’s will be getting my dog food business from now on.

  4. I would love to see what Mr. Mar is doing to help bring businesses INTO our area… instead of just fighting ones that he finds objectionable. I would understand if the small store owners weren’t using words like “unfair”. Quality small stores = outstanding customer service + unique items…. Small stores that don’t want to be unique = customers shopping elsewhere.

  5. I understand both sides of the argument, BUT I must say, I really am against the large chains coming into the city…especially pet store chains. Having shopped at both it is the Mom and Pops that come to know you and your pet and you feel as if you are part of a community. The chains change employees frequently and they have little if any knowledge when it comes to the products they sell as their turnover is so great.

  6. I’m not sure why people advocate bringing in a a chain that has been sued ( and lost) because they put animals in freezers to avoid vet bills. It’s more than the competition. This corporation mis-treats animals They will not be selling pets because it was a condition of the lawsuit settlement. You are a $$ and thinking they care about why your pet needs say- a Lamb and Rice diet is mis-guided.

  7. I used to buy from B&B a lot more, I stopped going not because Pet Food Express opened but because I find the people working at B&B unfriendly and unhelpful.

    I hope Petco opens.

  8. Oh I see, that’s HOW you are supposed to compete with other businesses. If someone has lower prices than your store, you bitch and whine so that they can’t go in. That’s right, that’ll justify your over-priced goods. I understand you have more overhead because you’re a mom-and-pop operation, but capitalism thrives with competition. Maybe offer better customer service along with your high-cost goods? Low prices are not the only thing that drive customers in.

    I welcome corporate retailers that provide goods at low cost. They have maximized their buying power to reduce inventory cost and leveraged economies of scale to cut down on operating expenses. The consumer wins.

    If Petco can’t move in, the consumer loses.

  9. @David: It is absolutely terrible what Petco has done, but preventing them from moving into this location will not stop that. They need to be dealt with in court and have stringent oversight by 3rd party agencies to ensure they do not mistreat animals. I’ve read the report about them freezing animals and it is nothing short of heart breaking. But again, preventing one store from opening up is not the way to fight them. If you want, let them move in and then post fliers depicting their cruel practices. That way they will be driven out of business (but the landlord will still receive rent, since it was backed by a corporate agreement).

  10. I go out of my way to avoid the big chain pet stores. I used to make an exception for Pet Food Express because I liked their business practices. Then the owner pursued and opened the store in the Richmond. I do not like the ethics of Pet Food Express that allowed them to expand their business at the cost of other smaller businesses. They have many sucessful locations. I have no problem with them opening more. Just not in a way that hurts other existing and likely smaller business.

    I am a small business owner. I value my relationships with fellow business owners … those who operate near me or who are in the same line of work. I would not do what Pet Food Express did. It may be legal. But it does not reflect values that I respect. I can exercise my objection by not spendnig money there.

    I have shopped at B&B on and off for years. Now I go out of my way to shop at B&B. Some of the employees are quite reserved and are not quick to interact. But whenever I ask for something they are very responsive and helpful. I have even gotten a smile on occasion.

  11. There should a law…if someone or a group successfully prevents a business from opening in a vacant storefront, chain or local…that someone/group should be responsible for all exterior clean-up of graffiti, vandalism, and blight for that same storefront until it gets filled by a business that has been approved to open.

    Or if one prevents a new business from opening…then slash a social program from the lack of tax revenue.

    That would be justice.

  12. Stopped by a grocery store in San Diego yesterday (there on business) and paid using my Visa card. I’ll make sure to tell folks there next time that they need to create their own credit card processing company and keep those dollars local! Since we’ve decided that we want nothing to do with San Diego’s pet store companies, they should want nothing to do with our financial, internet, and clothing companies – right?

  13. I stopped by B&B last night. I haven’t seen the guy I thought was the owner there in months.
    The kid who checked me out was the fourth different person at the checkout in my last four visits, was borderline rude, and did not even ask if I wanted a bag for my purchases.

    I’m sure not getting a friendly neighborhood vibe from them.

    The last time I was at the Stonestown Pet Food Express, the checkout person was very nice and asked me if I had found everything.

    Tell me again why chains are so bad?

  14. What a joke. protect a specific business? Target is moving in with 2000 square feet and guess what todgya it is WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAy cheaper than petco. does mar stop them? does the merchant association? you should move to a mountain town and be the only pet store and then open a vacuum store and be the only vacuum store and then a convenience store and be the only convenience store and own everything. You are a bully. You are a phony and you are the reason that customers get fleeced in this city is becuase they put up with whiny owners of crappy overpriced stores who are afraid that when competition comes in they may have to work a bit harder and be a bit more creative. the petco customer are there. marr and the rest of the idiots supervisors should get the hell out of legislating market conditions and focus on cleaning up the shit hole that is currently the filthy in debt city. all todgya and bandb do is fleece customers with high prices. their friendly neighborhood store is not that friendly, just look on yelp. Target will crush him and any other small pet store much worse than petco. worst part is these morons think they have right to think for other people and let people decide where to spend their money. i will tell you it is not at band b or any of the other whiny woe is me because i am a small retailer. don’t you think at the first chance they will be expanding when they can? what a joke.. i am embarrased by my city.

  15. Why don’t all the pet store owners in the Richmond District form a co-op and lease the Walgreen’s space to keep Petco out themselves? Be proactive and professional Instead of whining and having the Richmond’s own pandering errand boy, Eric Mar do your selfish bidding. Also, to suggest that the landlord could subdivide and or drop the rent while you do nothing constructive is ridiculous. That stretch of Geary has been ugly since the Alexandria closed and compounded by the move of Walgreen’s. Pet express will attract business from all over this part of town and commuters from Marin.

  16. I hope they keep Petco out. One of the beautiful things about San Francisco is that many of the residents want to keep small businesses alive. Small businesses create a sense of community that is never possible with larger and mostly anonymous chains. North Beach has successfully kept chains out for years, and the result is a strong identifiable neighborhood. Leave the chains to the rest of America.

  17. So “anonymous chains” like: Peets, Safeway, Starbucks, Gordo’s, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Fresh and Easy, See’s Candy, Ross, etc, etc etc should be kept out too?

    The Richmond would kinda suck without those chains.

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