Rye’s Best Friend: Pet Pantry Warehouse
By Janice Llanes Fabry
Pet Pantry Warehouse, a family-owned pet supply retailer, has ten years under its collar, thanks to a longstanding foolproof formula.
“We hold true to old traditions and customer service,” said co-owner Adam Jacobson. “We pride ourselves on being an integral part of every community we’re in.”
Pet Pantry Warehouse was founded in 1945 by two World War II veterans, Army Air Force servicemen Jac Cohen and Mort Davis, who had adopted a puppy in wartime England, and opened the business in Greenwich when they returned from overseas.
In 1995, the store was purchased by Barry Jacobson and his sons, Adam and Ari, all of whom run the business today. In addition to the original Greenwich location, they added shops in Larchmont, New Canaan, Wilton, and Riverside, as well as 259 Purchase Street in Rye.
The Jacobsons were born and raised in Harrison, with many pets of their own, from a Doberman and West Highland terriers to Akitas and “a couple of token fish.” Both brothers went on to start their own families in Rye. Though they’ve since relocated to Connecticut, they recently moved their offices to Purdy Avenue.
“We’ve come full circle,” remarked Adam. “We truly are local people and we’re grateful to be able to operate in the Rye community, which has embraced us since the first day we opened.”
The store carries top quality merchandise — food, bedding, collars, leashes, bones, nutritional supplements, grooming products, and more. Regularly bringing in new and innovative formulas that meet their strict criteria, Pet Pantry offers lines of canned, frozen, freeze-dried, and dehydrated food, as well as raw-infused Kibble. Although their focus is on cats and dogs, they also stock supplies for wild birds, fish, reptiles, and small animals.
“We provide our customers with the highest product offerings on the market,” noted Adam. “We were first in the marketplace to transition to US-only pet treats to ensure our patrons the best quality. Our mantra is ‘we want your animals to thrive, not just survive.’”
In addition to all the accoutrements needed to sustain a pet’s healthy and happy life in the home, the Rye store’s experienced and knowledgeable personnel keeps customers coming back. Manager Kendra Lee and Sales Consultant Michelle Larocco have worked in the Rye store since it opened, and Support Manager Jon Schulz has been there for five years. In the office, Vice President Joshua Roth and General Manager Emery Kriegsman were there from the outset.
Pet Pantry Warehouse also prides itself on its active community outreach. In addition to being the primary sponsor of Rye Recreation’s Paws Walk, they support the Rye YMCA’s Rye Derby and Healthy Kids’ Day, as well as local schools, pet adoption agencies, and police department K-9 dogs.
Having established a loyal clientele, Adam said, “We feel appreciative of Westchester and Rye, especially, for supporting a local, family-owned business when now more than ever the texture of our local communities can be challenging. We’re humbled and we say ‘thank you.’”
<Pet Pantry Warehouse offers monthly promotions, rewards programs, and free parking. Store hours are Monday-Friday from 9-7, Saturday from 9-6, and Sunday from 10-6. For more information, visit ppwpet.com.
Rye’s Pet Pantry Warehouse retail team, from left: Kendra Lee, Michelle Larocco, Tiffany Quintero, and Jon Schulz
Office crew, from left: Emily Roth, Nancy Roth, Emery Kriegsman, Cynthia Fox, Joshua Roth, and co-owners Adam Jacobson and Ari Jacobson