Pet owners, or ěpet parentsî as theyíre called by PetSmart, who have been waiting with anticipation for the giant pet supply store to open finally got their wish.
PetSmart, located in the former CircuitCity at Innes Street Market on Faith Road, opened Monday, offering more than 10,000 items including apparel and accessories, bedding, foods, snacks and toys to take care of all pets, whether they bark, meow, slither, blow bubbles or chirp.
The store plans a grand opening Saturday. The event will include drawings, prizes, specials and more.
Julie Brown manages the 20,000-square-foot store.
The store offers a full-service grooming salon and dog training program with accredited trainers for dogs of all ages.
PetSmart partners with other big-name brands to offer exclusive products.
The Salisbury location offers Martha Steward PETS. This line of apparel, bedding, feeding and grooming accessories, toys and more is said to be hand-picked by Stewart herself.
PetSmart also carries Fisher-Price pet toys inspired by childrenís classics, including the ěRuff-A-Stackî and ěChatterpupî telebone chew toy.
GNC Pets has two lines of supplements sold at PetSmart, one for cats and the other for dogs, designed to enhance overall pet wellness from additional nutrition for puppies and kittens to alleviating aging issues in older pets, such as joint pain.
PetSmart carries a variety of specialty foods, and store associates can help pet owners determine the best type of food for their pet, depending on the breed, age, lifestyle or specific need.
Year-round events at PetSmart include adoptions, a Howl-O-Ween party where pets can strut their stuff for the parade and costume contest, and Holiday Santa Claws, which takes place every weekend in December. Pets sit on Santaís lap for a classic holiday photo.
The Innes Street Market is located across from Loweís.
Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.
In addition to selling small live animals, the store also will partner with local pet adoption groups to offer adoptable dogs and cats on the weekends.
PetSmart Charities coordinates pet adoptions and determines which adoption groups will participate.
Contact reporter Emily Ford at 704-797-4264.