While you’re strolling down Bardstown Road celebrating St. Patty’s day, stop in for the grand opening of new pet mecca Barkstown Road.
It’s a stylish one-stop shop for your dog and cat needs and wants, from food and collars to wildly durable chewable hippos and petal pink parkas. There is also a washing and grooming station!
The boutique’s grand opening will span Thursday, March 15 through Sunday, March 18. Hours are 11:30 a.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to browsing the eco-friendly, affordable, and mostly American-made merchandise, two and four-legged guests can enjoy a variety of grand-opening perks.
Free lime-green gifts including litter scoops, food clips and Frisbees, will be given away with every purchase. Plus, dogs and their people will receive free munchies, Red Hot Roasters coffee and the chance to buy some savory grub from Moe-licious BBQ’s food truck, which will be on the premises.
Barkstown Road’s courtyard, named Otto & Ruby’s Watering Hole, in honor of the owner’s dogs, will also be open for lounging and playing. The Watering Hole features comfy lawn furniture and a doggie drinking fountain.
Barkstown Road is the pet project of Kentucky native and animal ally Kim Boyle. Kim and her sister Aimee are the founders of Ferdinand’s Ball, a Derby party in its third year that benefits Old Friends, a farm in Georgetown, KY where thoroughbreds finished with their careers can relax, run and do what they please without fear of being slaughtered or sold.
With Barkstown Road, Kim wants to bring fun, fashionable pet products to Louisvillians, without the Paris Hilton prices.
“I’m not trying to be the Beverly Hills pet boutique. I wanted there to be both fun and practical items in the store that I would have been able to afford as a grad student while still maintaining a level of quality, durability and uniqueness,” she said. “There are a lot of people out there who want to provide the best products for their pets but simply can't afford it.”
You don’t have to wait until the grand opening to sample a selection of the boutique’s reasonably priced products. Barkstownroad.com is already open for business.
Boyle’s own dogs, Otto and Ruby, helped inform her choice of merchandise.
“I'm an owner of big dogs, so instead of focusing solely on cutesy items for little doggies--which I of course love too!-- there are lots of cutesy items and even apparel for dogs of all sizes. We don't discriminate. Everyone deserves to look cute! We also have lots of fun stuff for cats too! “
Kitty products include Extreme Cat Nip Leaf in a sparkly red bag ($2.50) Zuke’s Natural Purrz cat treats ($4), which help benefit pet cancer research, and quality toys like the Fling Ama String ($29.99), an award-winning battery operated string-flinging machine praised by Cat Fancy and numerous other pet organizations and publications.
Barkstown Road also can satisfy your pet food and health product needs, with brands like Orijen, a human-grade pet food made from fresh ingredients, and a simple water additive that cleans plaque and tartar off your pet’s teeth.
Kim also intends to make Barkstown Road a hub of pet events. Shortly after the opening, we plan to pay tribute to our political system with a pet election: Dogs against cats. There will be primaries and you can participate through social media and at the store. More details to come.
Also coming up are dog and owner yoga classes, animal adoption drives and a pet of the week contest.