Downtown Pawz Openz

Posted on February 10th, 2012 12:05pm by Krista Nightengale
Filed under Animals, Business, Shopping

Front of the Downtown Pawz. Photo by Micah Nunley

Front of Downtown Pawz. Photo by Micah Nunley

A couple months ago, hammering, drilling, and general obnoxious construction work started beneath my feet in my apartment at the Wilson Building downtown. Instead of being annoyed, I realized that construction was a good sign and meant downtown was growing. And I moved to the other side of the Wilson.

This week, I got to see the final product of all that construction—a family owned pet supply store. I sent intern Becca Brooks to check it out. Her report is below. But just know this: my dog, Miko, has already given it his seal of approval. He had the ears off his new giraffe within minutes of me giving it to him. Neither of us are huge fans of the “z” in Pawz.

Adrian Bustos knew the risk he was taking when he decided to start a pet supply business in downtown Dallas in a 2010 economy, but he says he would always regret not trying. At the time, he lived at the Wilson loft apartments on Main Street. He was sick of driving 20 minutes for his picky dachshunds, Bella and Little Bear. He saw a need, and in hopes the odds would be in his favor, he opened Downtown Pawz, a family-owned and operated organic pet store, two years later.

“Many downtown residential units are pet-friendly, but pet owners had nowhere to buy their products,” Bustos says. The store is located inside the historic Wilson Building on Main Street, and it takes a keen eye to spot the store amongst minor construction. Before he and his wife moved from downtown Dallas, Adrian lived above the space he now owns.

As you walk in, expect a warm greeting from both the ambient green walls and the pet-obsessed owners. Aidi and Adrian want both you and your pet to feel like family. If dogs could design their own supermarkets, this would be the Tom Thumb of them all. Neatly organized food, collars, leashes, toys, and dog costumes are on display. Your pet can practically make his or her purchase.

The space was vacant for years, Bustos says. There were offers to put in candy and convenience stores, but Dallas Realtor, Jack Gosnell, ultimately chose the pet store. “He gave us the exclusive,” Bustos says. “The landlords were really excited about the idea of a single pet supply store downtown,” In fact, Forest City Texas, a company made up of three downtown apartment buildings including the Wilson, funded the remodel of the space.

After two years of planning and remodeling, Downtown Pawz provides downtown Dallas pet owners a one-stop shop for pet products in the heart of the city. The store is clearly doing well already because the Bustos family feels welcomed by the community in their first week of business. There are plans for a full grooming and delivery service by May 2012.

Downtown Dallas is not just the stomping grounds for businessmen and construction workers. Nearly 7,000 residents call the Central Business District home, and one thing is certain: they love their pets. So, if your dog leads you to Main Street on your next morning walk, it’s probably because of the irresistible smell of all-natural ingredients in stock at Downtown Pawz. —Becca Brooks

Interior of Downtown Pawz. Photo by Micah Nunley

Interior of Downtown Pawz. Photo by Micah Nunley

15 comments

  1. Great addition to downtown Dallas. Friendly folks with a great idea given the number of dogs now in downtown.

    I think they should take the skyline painting off the front window though. Clear the window space and thus create a greater engagement with the sidewalk and street.

    @ 12:19 pm on February 10, 2012

  2. Also, one small correction: Downtown Dallas, Inc. now calculates the CBD population at over 7,000.

    @ 12:20 pm on February 10, 2012

  3. Thanks, Rangers100. Becca told me the updated number, and I forgot to correct it. I’ll do that now.

    @ 12:25 pm on February 10, 2012

  4. The paw prints on the floor are a nice touch, but shouldn’t be so random.
    When my dog tracks in dirt, they start at the door and fade as the paws get cleaned by my carpet.

    @ 12:28 pm on February 10, 2012

  5. So excited to have them in the neighborhood!

    @ 2:27 pm on February 10, 2012

  6. Were u going to put the address of this place in the article or do I just walk in circles to find it? Journalism 101 seems to be your failure.

    @ 2:33 pm on February 10, 2012

  7. Can we get the addy? Door says 106…is that on Main?

    @ 3:01 pm on February 10, 2012

  8. It’s at 1623 Main St., Roger. Googling seems to be your failure.

    @ 3:12 pm on February 10, 2012

  9. The door says “106″ because that is the suite number.

    The address is, in fact, 1623 Main Street.

    @ 5:17 pm on February 10, 2012

  10. In this article, you mistakenly called a pet food store “organic.” This is untrue. Very few pet foods or treats are actually organic. They make up a tiny percentage of the products sold in high-end pet food boutiques, this one included.

    @ 6:12 pm on February 10, 2012

  11. This business should do very well in this location. Congrats to them and best of luck.

    @ 9:19 pm on February 10, 2012

  12. The store is all-natural, meaning the food and treats they sell do not contain animal by-products nor do they contain artificial preservatives. It’s good stuff.

    @ 10:34 pm on February 10, 2012

  13. Very well reported and written. That Becca Brooks gal is going places!

    @ 11:47 pm on February 12, 2012

  14. Great concept! My loft is in the heart of downtown- Now I can walk down the street and pick up my dog supplies. Good customer service and d store smell wonderful unlike other pet stores….

    @ 9:46 am on February 13, 2012

  15. Wow, the nitpickers were out in force this weekend.

    @ 3:45 pm on February 13, 2012

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