Photo courtesy of Pampered Pet
Echeverri and her Fiance
If you have been to Belle View Shopping Center lately you may have noticed a new tenant at 1612 Belle View Blvd. Karencita Echeverri quietly opened Pampered Pet Boutique and Barkery in October 2021 and held a grand opening celebration and ribbon cutting in December.
Step inside the shop and two things will jump out at you. First, there is the large supply of fun, high quality and unique toys, treats, food and other pet accessories lining the shelves. Second, you will immediately feel a warm and home-like atmosphere. Frames with photos of local dogs are interspersed with the drool worthy dog treats and on the checkout counter. Walk towards the back of the store and you will see an antique wooden mantel, couches and dog beds arranged to feel like your grandmother’s living room.
Creating this atmosphere was important to Echeverri, who greets customers like they are family, with an enthusiasm for animals and the products she carries that is clearly evident.
“I wanted a place that dogs could come to, and pet parents, that would feel welcoming, it doesn’t feel like a sterile pet store, and you can give them good, quality food without the markup. Our motto here is we pamper your pet just like our own,” she said.
Originally from Long Island, New York, Echeverri has been in Northern Virginia for many years. She lived in Del Ray for a while and managed a pet store in Old Town for five years, before launching out on her own (with a little financial support from mom and sweat equity from her fiancé, Daniel).
“This is actually my passion. I have worked in the corporate world for over 20 years. I’ve had really high-profile jobs/stressful jobs and I realized at the end of the day, you have to do something that makes you happy,” Echeverri explained.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
A portrait of Zeus
Echeverri credits her now 12-year-old pit bull, Zeus, for inspiring the trajectory her life has taken, which includes opening her own business. His face is on the logo of the store and his portrait hangs above the wall of toys.
Alexandria is widely known for being pet-friendly. The City was declared a certified “Better City for Pets” by Mars Petcare in January. For Echeverri it just made sense to open her business in this area. “I found that this was my niche, it’s something that I’m used to, I’m used to the demographics around here. They [Alexandrians] really have a passion for their pets. It’s not just a pet, it’s actually a member of their family,” she explained.
Pampered Pet carries eight lines of dry food including Dr. Marty, Dr. Gary, Fromm, Stella and Chewy’s, Vital Essentials, Grandma Lucy’s dehydrated and the high protein Acaina for very active or working dogs.
Echeverri is a huge proponent of raw food and she carries six different lines of it in industrial sized freezers. She was first introduced to raw food by Terri Grow, a pet nutritionist who ran the pet food store PetSage in Alexandria, before she recently transitioned to providing services through her website and partnering with pet parents, veterinarians and other pet-related professionals like Echeverri.
“The one thing I like about raw is that it brings the dogs and cats back to their primal instinct. People have this misconception of raw food that you’re just throwing a chicken down and the dogs are tackling it. No – these are complete, balanced meals. The often have the bones, organs – it’s a complete meal. Yes, it is higher in protein but you don’t feed the dog as much,” Echeverri explained. Raw food is particularly useful for pets with allergies, like Zeus who is allergic to anything with feathers, and for overall pet health.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
For Echeverri it’s all about educating pet parents and making them comfortable with the products they are buying, not about the sell. She works with different budget and not only offers two week samples, but if a product doesn’t work, customers can bring back food that is at least half full and she will donate or discard it.
In addition to dog and cat foods, Pampered Pet carries high quality toys, collars, treats, apparel and other pet items. Many of the products that Echeverri carries are from women-owned, minority-owned, and local businesses.
Photo by Alexandria Living Magazine
Dog Donuts at the Barkery
Echeverri is especially excited about her “barkery” which carries human grade doggie baked goods sourced from four different bakeries. Items include dog donuts, dog candy, birthday cakes and seasonal cookies. There is also a raw bar which carries healthy chews like bully sticks, beef cheeks and even, dehydrated duck heads which are actually one of the shop’s top sellers. “Parents buy it as a gimmick and they come back and they’re like my dog ate that whole thing, they love it!” Echeverri said with a laugh.
Photo courtesy of Pampered Pet
Echeverri is committed to using her business to give back to the community and causes she is passionate about. She has hosted adoption events and charity fundraisers to support rescues like Project Second Chance and Stand Up For Pits. She plans to offer events and activities like painting with your dog, coffee and donut with your dog, CPR for your pet classes and ask the trainer.
She is partnering with other merchants in the shopping center to make it more of a destination. EMMAvet, an emergency vet is located only a few doors down from Pampered Pet. EMMAvet recently expanded and started offering primary care services late last year. The shop provides a relaxing spot where pet parents can wait while their pet is being examined or buy a special treat to surprise their pet when they are finished. That, combined with Westgrove dog park which is located less than a mile from the shopping center are making the shopping center a hub for pets and their parents.
Image courtesy of Pampered Pet
Echeverri says the reception she has received from the community has been incredible. Many of her customers find her via word of mouth and she has some customers that drive 45 minutes to shop with her.
Towards the end of our interview, a man entered the store with his small dog who immediately started running around the store and coming up for affection. They apparently visit the shop daily, and that is exactly the kind of community that Echeverri is hoping to create at Pampered Pet. She has an off-leash policy in the store, where she wants dogs to have the freedom to be themselves. She understands that not all dogs are comfortable around a lot of people or dogs so she offers VIP hours one hour before opening or after closing for customers who work late, have COVID concerns or have dogs with social anxiety.
Stop by Pampered Pet Boutique and Barkery at 1612 Belle View Blvd. Monday through Saturday 10 a.m.-7 p.m. or Sunday 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
