Market Spotlight: New York

Home to an estimated 1.1 million pets, the Big Apple is big on pets. With a pet culture that takes pampering seriously, New York City ranks number one for spoiling pets, according to Forbes Advisor. Among the key findings: 42 percent of NYC dog owners throw birthday parties for their pets, and 40 percent spend more money on their pets than their significant others. More than half spend more on their pet’s grooming and healthcare than their own. According to the NYC Economic Development Corporation, pet ownership generates more than $1.5 billion annually for the city. 

By the Numbers

Within the greater New York City area, including Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, the Bronx and Jersey City, there are 389 pet specialty store locations and a total of 218 different companies. In Brooklyn specifically, there are 73 pet stores, with 13,515 households per pet store, and a population of 2,736,074. The median household income for Brooklyn is $81,027. Manhattan is next with 65 pet stores, 12,119 households per pet store and a population of 1,597,451. The median household income is $101,078.

The top three retailers within the market are Petco with 52 stores, PetSmart with 31 stores, and Pet Supplies Plus with 16 stores. Altogether, they make up 25.4 percent of the market. There are 165 single-store retailers that equal 42.4 percent of the New York City market. Other retailers make up 32.2 percent. 

Pet-Focused Businesses

In a city where 1 in 3 households has a cat or dog, pet retailers become more than a place to shop; they become an essential part of the community. 

“I felt honesty and the wholesomeness of the ‘mom and pop’ feel was missing from the industry,” shared Anthony Eccleston, Owner and Manager of All in 1 Petshop. “All in 1 Petshop lives up to the name; we pride ourselves on carrying a wide selection of products, from cat and dog supplies to insects, all in one location.”

When it comes to the Greenpoint community, Eccleston knows they have an opportunity to build relationships. “We assist Greenpoint Cats, a nonprofit that provides TNR cat rescue by hosting their cat adoption events. We also support SOS Animal Welfare by selling merchandise that is locally made, where 100 percent of the proceeds are used to help stray animals and lower overpopulation by spaying/neutering,” Eccleston explained.

“When the opportunity eventually arose to open my own business, I decided to go for it,” expressed Janine Ling, Owner of Animal Crackers. “I opened my store 23 years ago, and at the time, we were the only store in the area. We focused on high-quality foods that were not readily available elsewhere.”

“Being in business for over 20 years has played a massive role in our success. Our customer base has become a community of friends,” affirmed Ling. “We have watched children grow up, get married, and have their own families. Being a trusted part of the community where we are always available to provide answers and help has allowed us to thrive.”

Laura Haupt, Owner of Bark & Meow, noted, “My path to the industry was unconventional; I am a trained architect and spent 16 years in high-end residential construction before opening the store. The inspiration for this shift was my Shiba Inu, Sachi. She was my constant companion in my office and on jobsites for 2 1/2 years, and eventually, I decided I wanted a career that allowed us to stay together.”

“Operating in a Rivertown village, I’ve found that being an independent retailer is a major asset. Customers here treat their pets as family members, and they value the human contact and personalized service we provide,” commented Haupt. 

“Along the way, I fell in love with two things: great coffee and the time I spent with my dog,” revealed Natassa Contini, Owner of Château Le Woof. “Château Le Woof grew out of that combination. It let me take everything I’d learned about hospitality and build something around the two loves that mattered most to me.”

Contini added, “What I kept noticing was that every pet store I visited lacked something. There was no experience, no sense of community. At the same time, I knew how much people loved lingering in a good café, and my dog loved lingering in a good pet store. I saw an opportunity to merge the two, a place where you and your dog could sip, shop, and actually hang out. That idea became Château Le Woof, the first dog café and shop in the country.”

“Living and working in New York City, I knew that this was a niche that wasn’t being addressed, and with my career experience in wholesale sales and merchandising, I understood the steps involved with setting up a multi-brand retail store. We initially launched online back in 2014 and opened our first full-time brick-and-mortar shop in New York City in 2016—and it was an immediate hit,” said Melinda Montney, Owner of Dog & Co., a pet boutique offering apparel, accessories, and health products. 

She continued, “While there are always lots of challenges as a small company in a big market, we feel lucky to do business in a time and place that does support small and diverse businesses.” 

“When I first opened, the industry was really just starting to focus heavily on healthy and raw pet foods, and that was (and still is) a huge focus of our shops,” commented Dorothy Evans, Owner of Bushwick Bark.

“My favorite part about running a pet business is being able to get involved with animal rescues, whether it be adoption events, fostering kittens or putting together fun rescue fundraiser parties where the community can attend and enjoy,” shared Evans. 

New York City’s pet businesses reflect the city’s energy. In a market where pets are treated like family, independent retailers thrive on strong relationships, personal connection and the shared passion that keeps New York’s pet culture growing.