Interview with Owner Dimitri Kelembelidis
By Barbara Chacour
Beasty Feast was founded by Dimitri’s late parents in 1977, originally on Bleecker Street. The parents, who had owned a deli on Grove Street, got the idea because they noticed the large number of pets in the neighborhood. Dimitri was
born in the West Village Houses where he still lives. His parents opened the stores at 630 Hudson Street (at Jane Street) and 680 Washington Street (at Charles Street) in the 1990’s. Dimitri joined the business in 2000. This April he opened a third location at 327 West 14th Street, mid-block between 8th and 9th Avenues. We met the proud owner there for a tour.
Barbara Chacour: What prompted you to expand?
Dimitri Kelembelidis: Any business owner has to think about where the business is going. We needed more space both for supplies and for the dog grooming service. Pet food companies are expanding their lines. Here, we have 3100 sq. ft. in the store and have shelf space for entire lines. On Hudson we have 1400 sq. ft. and on Washington 900. Frozen diets have become an important category—we have freezers in the three stores, with the largest here. Frozen precut raw meat (easily thawed) is popular because of its high moisture content (especially helpful for cats to avoid urinary tract problems) and because raw meat contains natural enzymes which prevent dental disease.
How do you like the LED lighting above the shelves and the clear signage? I visited upscale stores like Whole Foods for ideas for the layout and worked with a designer. (A new customer walked in while we talked and said, “Wow, I like the vibe here.”)
Then our dog grooming business on Hudson has only two stations and is always booked from 9am to 9pm. Last summer, we hired two additional great groomers who were also working out of the Hudson store. Here, we have a state of the art grooming facility for them with four stations. Notice how correctly it is laid out with the electric outlets overhead so that the floor is clear of cords. (Three dogs were looking content during the visit.) Finally, we have a large downstairs space where I plan to open dog training and agility classes in the future. I already have trainers in mind.
BC: How are you promoting the new store and what are your competitive advantages against the national chains, besides your friendly staff? (I’m a customer myself. Dog owners cannot pass the front door of the stores with their dogs without getting dragged in for a greeting and a treat.)
DK: I have many long-time employees who are all animal lovers. We stay fully stocked. We deliver throughout Manhattan with a minimum order size. We are open seven days a week. We are conveniently located for many customers to carry their supplies home if they wish. We are on Yelp, Google Plus, Facebook, and Twitter. Also, customers can get coupons on their phone once a week if they wish to join a site offering discounts on merchandise and grooming. Text the keyword BF327 to 87804.
