Continuing our series on interesting and innovative franchises sweeping our area, this week we turn our focus to The Dog Stop in Mamaroneck, where luxury suites and turndown service with amenities and luxury treats will all be available to lucky local (or not so local) canines.
In a recent conversation, the franchisees, Pelham Manor residents Thumper Moyle and Jonathan Friedman, told Westfair’s Westchester County Business Journal about the search for the right locale, the mechanics of the franchise and what makes The Dog Stop an outstanding facility.
Here are some edited highlights:
Jonathan, what have been your and Thumper’s career paths to date that brought you both to opening The Dog Stop, Mamaroneck?
“We both retired young – I from a career in law and business, and Thumper from a career in human resources. After years in the corporate world, we knew we wanted to create something together that felt personal and meaningful – aligned with our shared love of dogs.
“We explored several business models and franchise systems. Dog care was a natural fit. It combined our passion with a sound operational foundation. We interviewed and visited the headquarters of every national franchise in the daycare/boarding space and determined for multiple reasons that The Dog Stop was the best fit for its commitment to safety, training and cleanliness. We also loved that it’s cage-free, highly interactive and brings all services – daycare, boarding, grooming and training – together under one roof.”
How did you go about researching the Westchester / Mamaroneck marketplace?
“Having grown up in Pelham Manor, I know Westchester County extremely well. Mamaroneck is really the hub of the Long Island Sound towns, with a vibrant downtown, great accessibility and a strong community of dog owners. The area is full of families and professionals who truly value quality pet care, yet lacked high-quality options for daycare and boarding. The opportunity was clear.”
And what about finding and securing premises?
“We worked with a Westchester-based commercial real estate broker and looked at more than 100 potential sites. Unfortunately, nearly all of the properties that fit our requirements were located in commercial or industrial areas that were, quite frankly, uninviting. Thumper and I got very lucky when we found what would become our present location, a former New York Sports Club.
“The catch: Mamaroneck’s zoning code didn’t yet allow for dog boarding or daycare facilities. I spent a year attending countless board of trustees’ meetings and worked closely with local officials to have the code amended to permit my type of business. The board was very supportive throughout the process, recognizing the community’s need.”
Let’s talk about the franchise investment, which was clearly substantial. Can you say how this was funded and give some indications of predicted return on investment with a timeline?
“Thumper and I built and funded this business with our own personal funds. Based on our early results, we are hoping to be cash flow-positive within the first 120 days.”
How has the village of Mamaroneck treated you?
‘The village of Mamaroneck has been a pleasure to work with. While the zoning process took time, the board of trustees was thoughtful and very supportive. Receiving our special use permit was painless, and the Mamaroneck Building Department, under its new leadership, ran like a well-oiled machine. Since I personally oversaw the build-out and acted as general contractor, I interacted with them regularly, and they were patient, professional and helpful at every stage. I want to give special thanks to Karen Johnson from the Building Department for her guidance.
‘The Mamaroneck Chamber of Commerce has also been incredible. Michael Murphy and his team have gone above and beyond welcoming us into the community and connecting us with local businesses through a myriad of local events.”
You only opened officially on Saturday, Oct. 25, but what are the early indications as to how the business will progress?
“….There’s definitely a buzz around town. Our introductory offer – an unlimited monthly daycare package for $299 – has also been incredibly popular.”
Were The Dog Stop Mamaroneck a “regular” hotel, we would be asking you about the ADR (average daily rate) and average length of stay. Well, we would like to ask you those two questions anyway.
“Our boarding rates vary by suite type. Standard suites are $88 per night and luxury suites are $120 per night. Though it’s still early days, our average length of stay is about five nights, ranging from three nights to around 11 nights.”
Lastly, if the franchise proceeds as predicted, do you imagine opening further Dog Stops or do you think you will have your hands full with this one?
“We currently hold the exclusive franchise rights for Westchester County and the right of first refusal for Fairfield County. If all continues as planned, Thumper and I absolutely intend to open more Dog Stop locations in the region.”
