This article was originally published on TheChampionNewspaper.com on October 12, 2026.
Although findings vary with survey methods, such organizations as American Veterinary Medical Association, American Pet Products Association, and World Animal Foundations report that between 77.5 million and 95 million American households have pets. It’s little wonder that pet supplies and services are big business.
Pet Supplies Plus, which bills itself as “the nation’s largest pet retail franchise with more than 725 locations and counting,” recently opened its newest location in Brookhaven. The store, which opened on Johnson Ferry Road in mid-September, scheduled its grand opening on Oct. 10 and 11, when staff will welcome area residents with a variety of special offerings.
The owners are entrepreneurs and animal lovers JC and Joanie Ryan. Married for 39 years, the Ryans say that during the years they have been together they have shared their home with pets of every kind—cats, dogs, birds, even reptiles.
“We’ve been married for nearly 40 years and pets have always been at the core of our family,” JC said. “What drew us to Pet Supplies Plus was how community-driven the brand is. Now, we get to grow our family by helping care for all the pets in our community.”
JC recalled that the store got its first customer the day before it opened. “A man came by wanting a particular dog food brand that he said he didn’t find in the nearby grocery store. I told him I would let him have it for free if he promised to come back as a paying customer. When we opened the next morning, he was our first customer.”
Joanie said she grew up on a farm around all types of animals from birds to goats and learned to love them all. JC, who said he had been a dog-and-cat man before he met Joanie, noted that he soon embraced her love for “99.1 percent of all animals.”
While the pet supply store is not their first business venture, the Ryans say it is the one dearest to their hearts. “We had a laundry business for a while, but this is more than just a business. It’s something we’ve dreamed of for a long time. We liked the idea of a franchise because of the support it offers with products and other matters. We spent countless hours browsing pet stores, considering what we liked and didn’t like. Pet Supplies Plus was the best match for us.”
Joanie said she especially liked that they could have live animals in the store. “I love canaries, and there will definitely be a canary at the store. We can’t have one at home because we have cats and that’s not a good mix.”
Pet Supplies Plus focuses on providing a unique in-store experience for all of its “neighbors”—the term Pet Supplies Plus uses for customers—and the Ryans say that especially attracted them to the franchise.
Neighbors are encouraged to bring their leashed pets in-store, where knowledgeable and caring team members are on-site to answer any questions, or offer tips, according to the store opening announcement, which added, “The experienced in-store team is extensively trained in the areas of natural and holistic foods and can answer a broad range of questions about dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and fish.”
Saying that Pet Supplies Plus is more than a retail store, Joanie noted, “We will help people make the best choices of products and services for their pets. When neighbors have just added an animal member to their household, we are able to direct them toward the best care. We have actual checklists that we provide.”
As community partners, the Ryans say they will work alongside local animal shelters, rescue organizations and nonprofits to host year-round adoption events, fundraisers, pet food and product drives.
The Brookhaven store offers a wide selection of pet essentials for dogs, cats, birds, reptiles, fish, and small animals, along with services including grooming, self-pet wash stations, and carry-out assistance, according to the Ryans.
The new store will participate in the Pet Supplies Plus Rewards program that allows members to receive regular coupons on products they frequently purchase, monthly specials, members-only sales, and other personalized offers.
