Dogtopia, a growing chain of doggie daycare and spas, opened its first Long Island location this week.
Bridgeport, Conn.-based franchisee Red Barn Dog Holdings opened a 6,000-square-foot Dogtopia at 4076 Hempstead Turnpike in Bethpage.
Dogtopia has three playrooms with compressed rubber flooring for dogs of similar size and temperament. The playrooms are equipped with an enhanced HVAC unit including in-duct UV lighting and microbial reduction systems that eliminate bad bacteria and viruses while funneling air out of the building, according to the company. The spaces are sanitized twice daily when the pups are resting, and routine detail cleaning is performed throughout the day.
Founded in April 2019, Red Barn, which already operates 15 Dogtopia locations in six states, is planning to open as many as eight locations on Long Island over the next few years.
“We were drawn to a lot of the fundamentals in the pet industry,” says Red Barn’s managing partner Chris Kempner, a former executive with a Manhattan-based private equity firm.
Kempner pointed out that the purchase and adoption of dogs in the 2020 pandemic year was up about 500 percent.
“It was a behavioral response to being quarantined and staying home, and that accelerated in the crisis,” Kempner said.
Dogtopia was designated as an essential business during the pandemic, but it was still a struggle for the company.
“The pandemic has been challenging in many ways,” he said. “We’ve suffered along with many in-person businesses during the pandemic, but we’re very optimistic about the long-term demand for non-medical pet services and the growth of the dog population. People treat pets as very important members of their families.”
The Bethpage Dogtopia is managed by Katie Gonzalez, who had been pursuing a degree in accounting, before getting into the doggie daycare industry.
“Kids and pets are both number one to the families in our community, which is why we’re excited to provide pet parents with a safe and fun environment for their pups,” Gonzalez said. “Each of our canine coaches has over 100 hours of training, and every pup that walks through our doors will be safe and well taken care of because they’re part of our family.”
Founded in 2002, Dogtopia now has nearly 150 locations throughout North America.
The initial investment for a Dogtopia facility can range between $668,298 and $1.444 million, depending on location and real estate, though the average investment level is $750,000, the company says. The all-in cost includes the initial franchise fee, costs associated with construction, equipment, training, payroll and working capital for initial operations. Each location employs about 20 full-time workers.
Dogtopia franchisees are required to have a minimum of $200,000 in liquid capital reserves and a minimum net worth of $1 million.
Red Barn is expecting its Long Island locations to be some of its best performers.
“Long Island has an amazing population of pet owners and has many family-oriented communities,” Kempner said, adding that dog-related businesses have a lot of upside.
“Dog daycare as a service is in its nascency,” he told LIBN. “With continued awareness and education, pet owners will likely discover that the socialization that Dogtopia provides gives meaningful health and wellness for their pets, rather than having them stay home and go for sporadic walks.”
To celebrate its grand opening, the Bethpage Dogtopia is offering two weeks of unlimited daycare for $129. The offer also includes an entry for a chance to win an unlimited month of daycare as well.