A Fredericksburg-based specialty pet supply store plans to open its tenth location in Chantilly — its first in Fairfax County — this fall.
Dog Krazy, a franchise founded in 2006 by Nancy Guinn, will open at 13932 Route 50 in Sully Plaza. In addition to food and supplies for both dogs and cats, the 2,400-square foot store will offer self-service dog washes and grooming.
Guinn told FFXnow in an email that because “there are always a lot of moving pieces when you’re building out a brand new store,” local franchise owners Doug and Deb Kaspar are not yet ready to announce an exact opening date. However, they’re “incredibly excited to open the doors and introduce Dog Krazy to the Chantilly community.”
“The shopping center is bustling, the location is fantastic, and we think Dog Krazy is going to be a great fit for the community,” Guinn said.
The Kaspars found Dog Krazy after adopting a puppy from the Old Dominion Humane Society (ODHS).
Dog Krazy, which has multiple locations in Richmond and Fredericksburg as well as shops in Stafford and Ruther Glen on the I-95 corridor, partners with the ODHS to send adopted dogs home with food and supplies.
“After adopting their puppy, Doug came into Dog Krazy for food and supplies and ended up falling in love with the store,” said Guinn, who co-owns Dog Krazy with her husband Chris. “He told us he had never walked into a pet supply store and felt the way he did at Dog Krazy. It wasn’t just the products, it was the interaction with our team and how obvious it was that everyone genuinely loved pets.
“He actually sent Deb to another Dog Krazy location without telling her exactly what to expect because he wanted to know if she would have the same experience. She did.”
That positive experience eventually led the Kaspars to reach out about the possibility of opening a franchise.
Dog Krazy is one of several businesses that will open in or near Sully Plaza in the coming months: Big Frog Custom Tees, which has locations throughout the U.S. and Canada, is set to open at 13918 Route 50 in mid-November, and Wonder food hall is expected to open a Chantilly location at 13958 Route 50 next year.
In addition, just down the road, a new restaurant called Neat High Fidelity Indian Lounge is planning to open at an unannounced date.
Guinn hopes what will distinguish Dog Krazy from other pet supply stores is “the level of knowledge and personal service customers receive when they walk through the door.”
“Dog Krazy started 20 years ago with one little store in Downtown Fredericksburg and a simple idea: we would only sell products we felt comfortable using with our own pets,” Guinn said. “That philosophy still guides us today.”
“We want customers to feel what Doug felt the first time he walked into Dog Krazy,” she added. “We want someone to know that the person helping them isn’t simply trying to sell them something. They’re listening, asking questions, learning about their pet and helping them find what makes sense for that individual animal.”
