FAIRMONT — Pets Plus LLC, under new ownership, has expanded its offerings to become a full-service pet store.
Pets Plus, located at 601 Fairmont Ave., has been in business since September 1989 and was previously owned by John Daniels.
Aaron Ashley, who owns Shermantic Computer Service directly across the street, said he had known the workers at Pets Plus for more than a decade and saw that the shop could potentially go out of business. Pets Plus had been seeking new ownership, and Ashley had been approached several times over the years to purchase it.
Ashley did an interim term at the business from August through September and officially took over on Oct. 1.
Under Ashley’s ownership, Pets Plus has more than tripled its in-stock items and has done a good amount of renovations. Ashley called this work “a refresher for a 20-year business.”
The store is putting in new facilities for all its puppies and now offers full-service grooming.
“It essentially makes us Marion County’s only full-service pet store,” Ashley said. “It’s a one-stop shop for your animal.”
Pets Plus only works with local puppy breeders and offers a lot of rescue puppies and kittens.
“If the pound won’t take them, we very well may,” Ashley said. “We placed over 20 rescue puppies in the month of October.”
He said Pets Plus has one of the largest aquatic displays in the area, with more than 76 species of freshwater fish. The store has birds, rabbits, gerbils, hamsters and guinea pigs for sale. Customers can also find chinchillas, ferrets, mice, rats, geckos, snakes, turtles, hermit crabs and more there.
Pets Plus recently applied for its United States Department of Agriculture license to carry exotic animals, like squirrels and monkeys. Ashley hopes to be able to sell these animals by the first of the year.
Rachel Abel, who has been with the store for more than eight years, is the manager. Pets Plus also hired some new employees, which brought its total number of workers to six. Ashley said he’s shocked by how well business has been going since he bought the shop.
Ashley, originally from Mannington, moved to Fairmont when he was about 17 years old. He is also the owner of Mountaineer GrafX LLC, which outgrew its Fairmont facility and moved to a larger space in Shinnston in June.
Pets Plus is open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 304-366-7016.
E-mail Jessica Legge Borders at jlegge@timeswv.com.
Business
Pets Plus expands under new ownership
- Business
-
-
‘Timely investment’
Thanks to funding from INNOVA Commercialization Group of Fairmont, Protea Biosciences Group Inc. of Morgantown is meeting the needs of pharmaceutical companies in an improved way.
-
G&S Wireless has new home at Tygart Commons
G&S Wireless is excited to be better able to serve customers at its new home in White Hall.
The store, a U.S. Cellular authorized agent, recently moved into the newly constructed Tygart Commons shopping plaza between Walmart and Tygart Valley Cinemas, after being located in the Middletown Mall for about 16 years. -
TechConnect to host biometrics forum on June 20
An upcoming forum will bring people together in a spirit of collaboration to determine how to move the state’s biometrics industry forward.
-
Mentus goes full-time with taxidermy business
John Mentus has gone full-time with his taxidermy business, called JGM Taxidermy.
About two weeks ago, the Fairmont native opened his shop at 1620 Locust Ave., which is past the Exxon gas station and across from WomanCare. -
West Virginia’s unemployment rate continues to gradually improve
West Virginia’s unemployment rate continues to gradually improve along with the economy.
The Labor Market Information unit of WorkForce West Virginia’s Research, Information and Analysis Division recently published labor force estimates for the state for March 2012. -
Horn Hounds offers deer minerals, attractant
Horn Hounds LLC is Jim Gaines’ dream and passion.
In November, Gaines obtained his business license for his company, which makes deer minerals and attractant, and in January or February the operations kicked off. He runs Horn Hounds out of an office in his home in Metz. -
‘100 percent real world’
The West Virginia Statewide Collegiate Business Plan Competition is “100 percent real world.”
Meg Grzeskiewicz, a senior in West Virginia University’s Davis College of Agriculture, Natural Resources and Design, was recently awarded $10,000 for winning in the Lifestyle and Innovation category of the 2011-12 competition. -
The Colon Spa: Treatment without drugs
The Colon Spa is helping clients get their digestive systems on track.
In the middle of March, owner Alexandra Main opened The Colon Spa in Fairmont at 1827 Locust Ave., next to Westchester Village in a little white building off the side of the parking lot. -
Local financial institutions show dedication to community
Local financial institutions are dedicated to the community and are doing their part to help the economy grow.
First Exchange Bank takes pride in supporting the community, said Bill Goettel, president and CEO. -
Fairmont Tire and Auto Repair full-service shop
Fairmont Tire and Auto Repair is geared toward family and great service.
This full-service shop, co-owned by Bob Mullenax and his son Brian Mullenax, opened in August in the Winfield area. - More Business Headlines
-
‘Timely investment’
