LIMA — Dot’s Pet Store, which closed in March, is celebrating its grand reopening to the public Sunday, Aug. 11 under new ownership and in a new location.
The store offers an array of materials and supplies, as well as an assortment of small animals including kittens, reptiles and fish.
The new owners, Jared Wittenmyer and Nick Wheeler, ultimately revived the store. Dot’s had been serving Allen County for the past 33 years. It is now located at 2411 Shawnee Road, Suite D4, Lima, and can be reached at 419-991-6113.
“We were somewhat shocked,” Wittenmyer said about how he felt when he heard Dot’s closed.
Not only did he and Wheeler shop there frequently, they did so while loving the idea of supporting a small and local business. They didn’t want that feeling to change.
They were so fond of the store and its meaning that they pursued an opportunity with the former owner, Evan Nieto, who purchased Dot’s in 2019, about keeping the doors open.
“We didn’t want to see our and many others’ favorite pet store and small business close,” Wittenmyer said. “So we decided to approach Evan with our idea, and he loved it.”
Wittenmyer said they wanted to keep mostly everything the same as much as possible.
“We want to keep that familiar feel to the store,” he said.
He did bring up the idea of moving into a bigger space “once things really get going.” They brought Elyse Perez on-board from the old location, who serves as the manager.
“We felt her vast knowledge of animals and also the day-to-day operations of the store was going to be very beneficial to us here at the new location,” he said.
Nieto has been there to help Wittenmyer and Wheeler as they go through perhaps their toughest transition since being in the world of business.
“Evan has been a huge help with any questions we have about anything, whether it be ordering, customers, marketing ideas or even just day-to-day operations of the store,” Whittenmyer said.
There will be various activities on the grand reopening on Aug. 11, including a visit by non-profit pet rescue Deb’s Dogs, a food truck and giveaways.
Reach Cade Higgins at 567-242-0351
