While picking up some kitty grass at Cal’s Pet Supply this weekend, I learned about plans for a new Petco location at 5411 Geary near 18th Avenue, formerly a Walgreens.
Cal’s has been operating as a boutique pet store at California and 22nd Avenue since 1986. Owner Roy Schmall is concerned about the effect that a big box pet retailer would have on his own business, as well as its potential to “diminish the friendly, small town atmosphere of the neighborhood.”
So much so that after hearing the large retailer was looking over the nearby Geary location, Schmall began gathering signatures on a petition and reaching out to other neighborhood pet-related stores. So far he has about 150 signatures from customers and supporters; the petition can also be signed online.
Petco has not yet applied for their conditional use permit, though they filed and were approved in late July for one building permit to install new flooring and sheetrock (application #201007207013). Their lawyers have also been in touch with neighborhood groups to feel out the climate for Petco to move in.
It’s unknown what range of products and services this new Petco would offer, but it could pose stiff competition to a variety of small, pet-related businesses in the Richmond including groomers (Barking Lot at 3239 Balboa Street, Groom at 938 Clement Street), aquarium stores (6th Ave. Aquarium at 425 Clement Street, Lucky Ocean Aquarium at 109 Balboa Street) and other pet supply stores (B&B Pet Supplies at 4820 Geary Street). Schmall has reached out to many of them for support.
A similar campaign was launched to fight a Pet Food Express at the former Hollywood Video location at California Street near Presidio. But despite gathering 500 signatures, Pet Food Express was recently approved for their conditional use permit and should be opening its doors later this year.
However it’s been proven that neighbors and small businesses can prevent a large retailer from coming into a neighborhood. Pet Food Express first tried, unsuccessfully, to open in the Marina District at a former Blockbuster location. Neighbors and small business owners in the area argued that seven smaller, independently owned pet stores in the neighborhood would be put out of business by the large retail store. Their conditional use permit for that location was denied in November 2009, leading them to the Laurel Heights location.
Petco currently has two locations in San Francisco at 2300 16th Street near Potrero and 1591 Sloat Boulevard. Both of these stores are part of larger malls with ample parking. Some neighbors who have signed the petition against Petco are concerned about the new Petco contributing to the Richmond’s parking woes.
What do you think? Are you concerned about Petco moving in? Or would you continue to shop at the smaller pet stores even if Petco moved in on Geary?
Sarah B.
The location Petco is considering at 5411 Geary, formerly a Walgreens.
here we are in the middle of THE GREAT DEPRESSION and I’m a little tired of megalomaniacal business owners who think they can get a gig and be entitled to it forever thanks to fascist protection schemes. let the marketplace decide! these people are no different that the goofballs who’ve caused the masonic/geary mall to go to ruin for not wanting a Target etc. I’m tired of it! this city needs jobs and new business before it totally rots! a business should be successful because it is a good business, not because of protectionist BS
I will sign the petition. My issue is less about the mom and pops (I know I will continue to shop at the neighborhood stores) and more that we don’t need another pet store in our neighborhood. There are by my count at least 5 pet stores/pet supply stores in the Richmond. Another one is planned for Laurel Heights, I think. So it’s unnecessary to open another one. Plus its a small space…. Do we know what they plan to sell? Pets or just supplies?
Hi Rachel,
Yes, Pet Food Express will be moving into the old Hollywood Video on Calif. near Presidio. It’s not known what services or products this Petco might provide, but they pretty much offer all lines of pet products typically (not many live pets though).
Sarah B.
Thanks for the update!
I will sign this petition. I think that small business adds to the character of our neighborhood more than a national chain, and those jobs are also important to preserve. Really CF? – letting the ‘free market place decide’ results in things such as Wal-Marts coming into towns, decimating their character and all of the better jobs that existed before. ‘Let the market decide’ results in all of our jobs getting shipped overseas to little kids. It is incredible that people still buy into this idea that huge corporations have working people’s interests in mind, and that letting them decide will somehow benefit us. What a joke.
PETCO is a terrible business, one that takes very bad care of the animals that they sell. I know that when they bought an incredible store, Sammy’s Pet World on 16th & Bryant, they ruined it and turned it into a sterile place that resulted in all of the great staff leaving (along with many of the customers).
Um, it’s called capitalism. Compete or die. I have shopped at Cal’s but he is ridiculously expensive. He’s a business owner if he knows his customers so well he should carve out a niche and offer specialty products. He shouldn’t be allowed to block competition so he can continue to screw over his “beloved” neighborhood because he’s their only option with in walking distance.
I wonder what small-town, mom-and-pop, homegrown, neighborhood business could move into any large vacant space on Geary?
@Kim- I priced some sample items at Cal’s and the Petco on Sloat, Petco did not carry 5 of the items and on the other 7 Cal’s was cheaper. Nobody is getting screwed over. If you see something really cheap elsewhere- why not ask Roy about it instead of blasting his prices. Cal’s offers healthy items made locally, puts money back into the local economy and takes a personal interest in the pets and owners of the neighborhood. The compete or die corporation buys crap at bulk has no personal connection to you as a customer does not vote on things like schools or care what happens to our neighborhood. They do care about shipping the dollars elsewhere and when they have gotten all the dollars or are not making what the corporate profit gods want- they are gone. Now you have no store no little guy dedicated to keep it going. Just my opinion, cutting anothers throat so you can make a buck sucks.
Locally owned- Green Apple Books, farmer’s market and Sarah will kill me but yes another produce store!
I say let them try to make it – I’d rather have an open business, then an empty storefront (how long will the Busvan store sit empty on Clement vs having an actual STORE I can shop in there? I do more shopping on Chestnut & Union where I have options vs Clement. There used to be a pet store (maybe Petco) by the Cost Plus in Fishermans Wharf area & they closed…. vote with your dollars, but let people have the choice.
Susan, you wanna talk empty store fronts, let’s talk Union St.
I say let them open. The last time I checked we live in a capitalist society. Therefore let them succeed or fail on their own merits rather than complain that it will close the mom-and-pop stores. If you don’t want them here then don’t shop there but there is no need for a petition. We shouldn’t act like children and take our ball home.
Having just moved to the Richmond I must say that the blighted storefronts aren’t very lovely to look at. I do love shopping at the smaller stores but if it means some of the trash will be cleaned up and the storefront will be improved and employ people I say go for it.
I must be missing something. I am all for a free market. However, If your mom dad sister or brother did not work in these little places in years past you would not have had the many benefits which built the free society.So all the folks out there who proclaim loudly they are lefties and progressive are not socialists who believe in benefit for all but capitalists that favor the strongest and the hell with the weakest. Thought we had come farther than that in the 21st century. Cheapest goods mean someone is going without a job or living in poor conditions. Let em open we need more $10 an hour jobs, right.
Well this is the first I’m hearing that as owner of Barking Lot Grooming Salon, I am spearheading the campaign against PETCO opening on Geary Blvd and 18th Ave. I am a small shop. I do not sell retail of any kind.
I specialize in hand scissored haircuts for dogs and cats. PETCO is not my competition as their grooming department is more geared to walk-in clients or a “Super Cuts” and
I am more of a high end stylist with spa facilities and personalized attention for my clients. Having said that, I think PETCO along with the new Pet Food Express is overkill in our part of the city. There are many small shops and we really don’t need another PETCO in such a small area. I will follow closely this pending development; but I am not spearheading ANY negative campaign. I am way too busy for that.
thank you, Joy
Barking Lot 831-2275
@Ms. Bonehill,
The article never stated or implied that you yourself were “spearheading” anything. Your store was mentioned as a small-business in the area that could be affected by Petco’s proximity to the neighborhood.
I agree with the comment that the already terrible parking on Geary would get worse, and that Petco is not a reputable business in terms of providing care for customers, employees, or animals. I highly doubt anyone would make $10/hr working there.
I am not a big fan of Petco? But am wondering if there are any another options / or applications for that Retail Location. Its smack dab in the middle of Richmond and would be great to add something fun and interesting to the neighborhood. Tired of walgreens and safeway!
Also I am familiar with that mom and pop location never shopped there before. Since mom and pops usually over charge (but dont know never been, just comparing to the location on 12th and Geary) anyway of the mom and shop is worried, well they should grow there business. If petco thinks!
Those who dont adapt, wither and die!
….I went over to Cal Pet to sign the petition. I guess we are all into “quality” of life as opposed to
quantity. Petco is not a bargain store…nor is Pet Food Express. they have some things on sale to get customers in the door and then the bulk of their supplies go for top dollar!! I would think that
residents of San Francisco would be savvy enough to figure this out after a few shopping trips there.
they are friendly, but they are not a PeT STore WalMart-Target. they are pricey
the neighborhood shops are part of the reason I live in SF. I love the personality of this city.
I can go to Petco Anywhere, USA
Joy
Petco is not the same as Pet Food Express. Pet Food Express started in SF over 20 years ago. Same owners. They pay for the feeding of every animal in SFACC.
Did you know their are much more dogs and cats in SF then there are children?
We recently moved to Minneapolis from San Francisco. One of the things we have found to be more expensive in MN than in SF is the pet food; we paid much less at Cal Pet for our bird’s food than we do at Petco (the only place around here we can find it), and have found that our other pet necessities were either cheaper or the same at Cal’s or at B&B than they are at Petco.I hope the Richmond is successful in keeping Petco out. I’d love to see something in that spot (we lived a block away), but another pet store, particularly a national chain that does not even offer lower prices in return for less community spirit or service, would be unfortunate. To assume that a big box-style chain like PETCO offers lower prices than a local place is often not the case. I really miss our fabulous local Richmond pet stores! (and that goes for both quality of service AND price)
I do not think Petco should not open a store in the Richmond District and because we already have 6 pet stores in the neighborhood and why would we need another pet store opening its doors. Instead of Petco opening a store in the Richmond District I think Apple should open a store at the former Walgreens location at 5411 Geary Blvd. The reason I state that is because if Apple opens a store in the Richmond District more people who live in the Richmond District or people who live close to the Richmond District like Laurel Heights and Pacific Heights would want to shop at the new Apple Store location also cafes, restaurants, small grocery stores, or stores near the new Apple Store location will also have more customers who are shopping nearby. Again we have enough pet stores in the Richmond District and I do not think we need anymore to my knowledge.
OK, two things here:
First of all, business is a competition. Every business should be able to apply for permits and open its chains anywhere it wants to because it is called dictatorship if only certain chains are allowed to do so and others don’t. it DOES not matter whether you like the store or not. Business should be done honestly, and local pet stores compete for success honestly. They should not be allowed to “ban” any other stores, no matter how big it is. It does not work this way, economy has its own rules.
Second, I need to say that I do not agree with many things PETCO does-and if anyone is willing to stop it from happening, they should be writing petitions to stop inadequate pet care practices at PETCO stores and not ban the store from existence. The reason why they want it banned is clear-with their prices, Mom and Pop shops will not survive in the presence of megalo-mart like PETCO. And not only prices, but convenience of having all the things in one place. I know it hurts, it’s terrible, but they cannot just ban other stores.
I don’t like PETCO myself, it doesn’t have many good quality products as some other stores do, plus the whole pet sales thing, and I WILL keep going to the local stores that I already like. I also would be very sad if they close my Walgreens-it’s the only easily accessible pharmacy for me. It should not be closed. But, still, any store should have a right to compete. It is what makes this country, despite its faults, so different from dictatorial regimes (and believe me I know it, I am born and raised in Soviet Russia).
Just an opinion.
To all those who say let there be competion are correct…..as long as it’s on a level playing field. There is no way that a small independent store can comptete with a national company. Compettition in our society is supposed to be fair. That’s way there are weight divisions in sports, to make the comptetion fair. That’s why the super bowl champ drafts last, so other teams get a shot at the best players….to level the playing field. That’s why nascar has the same hp in engines so no one car has more hp than another. It’s called parity…..an equal opportunity to get to the top. How is it fair competition when a national company who has millions of dollars be compared to a small business operating on a household budget? And, is it fair that these big box stores come in and take the customers that a small store cultivated for years? Ca’mon folks. Let there be competition……yes. But lets make the competition fair. P.S. There are 5 other pet stores in the Richmond already, why in the world do we need a huge one????
:-)))
Competition in sports has nothing to do with market or economy. Staff of pet stores do not win over each other by going at it at a boxing match. Big stores, all of them, used to be small once. How do you think they became big and successful (and oftentimes, less “fair”?) Any of these small stores , sadly, can become a PetCo or a Petsmart. The ones in the area all have that potential. Geary is a huge boulevard, and all businesses should be welcome, it creates diversity. Saying we have already five pet stores around (they are VERY far from each other if you, like me, disabled and don’t have a car) is like saying “cm’on, don’ open another grocery store or a restaurant or a pharmacy…because we already have one around.”. Diversity, sir, consumer’s choice, and free market. The more the better, it drives down the prices. Of course we can force stuff on people and companies, but then we will slowly descend into fascism.