First Look: Petco unveils experiential flagship in NY

Petco Health and Wellness has opened a one-stop health and wellness destination for pets in the heart of the Big Apple.

Petco's new flagship in Manhattan’s Union Square combines the best of the company’s physical and digital offerings for a complete pet care experience. The two-level, 25,000-sq.-ft. store houses a full suite of experiences, products and services, ranging from a full-service veterinary hospital to an indoor dog training park. 

Located inside the landmark Tammany Hall building, the new Petco combines classic New York City design and architectural elements from various neighborhoods with trees and greenery that mimic the look and feel of the nearby Union Square park and an open-air farmer's market. Design elements include exposed brick, herringbone wood floors, and fixtures made with reclaimed materials.

Here’s a look at some of the store’s highlights:

•Vetco Total Care: This full-service veterinary hospital provides services ranging from wellness exams, vaccinations, and microchipping to dental care, dermatology, surgeries and more.

•Ruff's Barker Shop: Inspired by classic barbershops, the store’s pet salon offers grooming services tailored to specific needs, as well as a dog self-wash station.

•Dog training and indoor park – An indoor training park featuring Petco's certified trainers.

•JustFoodForDogs Kitchen – This in-store, gourmet kitchen features trained chefs preparing small-batch, human-grade pet meals, formulated by veterinarians and made with fresh, whole food ingredients.

•Reddy Shop –  Dedicated to Petco’s premium owned-brand for dogs, this full-scale shop-in-shop features a lounge area, fitting station, and customization zone where shoppers can personalize items from the store’s entire assortment. It is modeled after Petco’s freestanding Reddy store, which opened in 2021. 

•"17^th & Bark" – Named after the flagship's cross-streets and inspired by the Union Square farmers market, this curated collection of premium goods for pets is unique to this location. Vendors represent the diverse community of pet lovers.

• Petco Love Adoptions – The flagship will offer year-round cat adoptions as well as other adoption events with local animal welfare partners of Petco Love. An on-site photo booth allows pet parents to capture the moment they welcome a new pet into their family.

From designated companion animal and nutrition areas to the "Healthy Habits Hub" and dedicated dog and cat sections, the flagship features a variety of nutrition items and supplies to support pets' health.  

"We're delighted to welcome pets and pet parents to this revolutionary flagship experience that embodies Petco's fully integrated, omnichannel pet health and wellness ecosystem within a single pet care center," said Justin Tichy, COO at Petco. "Its distinctly New York design coupled with Petco's highly differentiated pet care offering brings to life the humanization and premiumization trends shaping the pet space in a way no one else can replicate. Every element is designed to cultivate a seamless experience that nurtures the incredible bond between pets and pet parents, making it a top destination for pet parents worldwide to experience the best in pet health and wellness."

On Sunday, Petco will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 11:30 a.m. local time, followed by the "Paws in the Park" party and adoption event beginning at noon local time. Petco Love will bring together more than 20 local animal welfare partners, including Muddy Paws and Animal Care Centers of NYC, to help hundreds of adoptable pets find loving homes. Additionally, there will be a fashion show, presented by BOBS from Skechers, featuring adoptable pets. To help raise awareness for Petco Love's lifesaving work, local artist Andrea Cáceres, who is also featured in the flagship's "17^th & Bark" collection, will design a custom mural to be displayed at the event.

"This adoption event will bring the community together with more than 400 New York pets of all shapes and sizes looking for loving homes," said Susanne Kogut, President of Petco Love. "When you enter the park, you will feel the excitement and anticipation, because by the end of the day, the lives of so many pets and people will change for the better. Pets bring people and communities together and this event is about filling NYC with unconditional pet love."

As part of the grand opening, Petco will also unveil reimagined, modern versions of its beloved Ruff & Mews mascots with a takeover of the brand's social channels and surprise New York pop-up appearances at key city attractions. Symbolizing the important role pets play as part of the family, and as the visual heart and soul of the Petco brand, Ruff & Mews will be honorary guests at the Petco Union Square grand opening weekend.

In addition to the June 4 adoption event, Petco Love will return to the Petco Union Square flagship on Saturday, June 17 to host a kitten adoption event.

The new flagship is a planned relocation of Petco's previous Union Square pet care center, which has been open at 860 Broadway since 1996 and closed on May 30. 

Founded in 1965, Petco operates more than 1,500 stores/pet care centers across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico, which offer merchandise, companion animals, grooming, training and a growing network of on-site veterinary hospitals and mobile veterinary clinics.