Wag N’ Wash Adds Colorado Store

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Wag N’ Wash Food & Bakery, a full-line specialty retail destination for dogs and cats, is continuing to expand its Colorado footprint. The Denver-based franchise is set to open its eighth Colorado store.

Located at 1150 W. Baptist Rd. in Monument, the new location is slated to open in March and will be owned and operated by John and Julie Carros, who ultimately plan to open at least two locations total in the area over the next several years. The specialty pet retailer hopes to have as many as 15 stores in Colorado over the next several years.

“We are thrilled to bring Wag N’ Wash to the neighborhood,” said John Carros, who will own and operate the Monument store with his wife, Julie. “Our pets are cherished members of our family and we aim to provide a one stop shop where pet owners can wash ’em, feed ’em, and spoil ’em all in one cool place.”

Not only is this new Wag N’ Wash a locally owned and operated business, but it is truly a joint family venture. John and Julie’s daughter, Christin, will be the store manager. It is also highly likely that you will see one of their two dogs testing the biscuits at the store from time to time.

After 26 years of moving from one Air Force Base to another, the Carros family chose to settle permanently in the Colorado Springs area and decided to open a Wag N’ Wash, bringing together their passion for companion animals and strong sense of family.

Founded in 1999 in Colorado Springs, Colorado, Wag N’ Wash offers a community for pet enthusiasts to come, find quality goods and services for their pet companions, and simply be pet people. Among the store’s offerings are various brands of all-natural pet foods for dogs and cats, supplements, collars and leads, toys, supplies and unique goods. In addition, Wag N’ Wash’s do-it-yourself dog wash facility is designed to put convenience and fun into the “chore” of washing your dog. And of course, no trip to Wag N’ Wash would be complete without visiting the store’s in-house bakery, rare in the pet store market, which offers treats such as Liver Bites, Pumpkin Ravioli, and a variety of pies, cakes and muffins using human grade ingredients.

Expert nutritional staff is always available to help customers make the best food and treat choices; and all the while, furry friends are mingling throughout the store. Each store builds its own unique community for pets and pet enthusiasts.

Each Wag N’ Wash store also actively supports local non-profits who share the company’s mission of enhancing the quality of life for companion pets and their guardians. In 2017 alone, Wag N’ Wash stores donated over $100,000 worth of gourmet biscuits, all-natural pet food, free washes, free merchandise and monetary donations back to their communities. In addition, Wag N’ Wash works with local rescue groups and has single-handedly been responsible for the adoption of more than 2,100 cats and dogs through its adoption fairs. The Carros family takes charity opportunities and social responsibility extremely seriously and is committed to proactively seeking out ways to make a positive difference in our community.

“As we continue to expand our presence in Colorado, it’s critical to find the right franchise partners who are passionate about the brand,” said Wag N’ Wash co-founder Dan Remus. “This is why we couldn’t be more excited about welcoming John and Julie to the team. John and Julie are both hardworking individuals who share the same values as we do. We have no doubt that the Monument community will join us in our mission to improve the lives of companion animals while helping them transition to a much healthier lifestyle.”

The average investment to own and operate a Wag N’ Wash 3,500-4,200-square-foot store is approximately $638,329. This includes the franchise fee of $40,000, build-out costs, training expenses, the first three months of rent, furniture, signage, computer equipment, inventory and supplies, initial advertising and grand opening costs. Three- and five-unit agreements are also available to select and qualifying candidates.

Today, there are 17 Wag N’ Wash locations throughout Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, Texas, Kentucky and Washington.