Belle View Goes to the Dogs (In the Best Possible Way)

Alexandria, VA — Belle View Shopping Center has a new reason for tails to wag: the team behind Del Ray favorites Your Dog’s Best Friends and The Dog Store has opened a new shop in the neighborhood.

Owner Paul Haire is no rookie in the dog world. “Your Dog’s Best Friends started 21 years ago, and The Dog Store opened in 2014,” he said. “Both of them began as community ventures. The neighborhood wanted a dog daycare, and I ended up creating it myself. Twenty-one years later, I’m having the time of my life running an amazing business.”

The Belle View space used to be home to Pampered Pet, a grooming and pet care business that closed after a difficult stretch. Curious about what had happened, Haire came to Belle View after reading an article about the closure. While he and his team were looking through the windows, a woman walked out and introduced herself as the property manager. “She explained the situation, and I realized this wasn’t about the concept failing,” Haire said. “It was a chance for a fresh start.”

Through a D.C. Divas (local women’s tackle football team) connection with Primo Restaurant owner Jimmy Nicopoulos, Haire learned about and attended a Mount Vernon–Springfield Chamber of Commerce meeting a few days later. He met Mount Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck and Fairfax County staff focused on helping small businesses open, including representatives from Fairfax Connecting Opportunities and Resources for Entrepreneurs (CORE).

“Forty-eight hours after I applied for the nonresidential occupancy permit, they gave it to me,” he said. 

Because the space was already built out for a pet business, Haire didn’t need a major renovation. It wasn’t exactly turnkey as it was full of old Pampered Pet merchandise but the basics were there. With some rent abatement to cover cleanup time, his team moved quickly.

Haire credits the smooth process to the cooperation between Fairfax CORE, the property manager, the Belle View Shopping Center administration, and the Mount Vernon-Springfield Chamber of Commerce. “The message all along was, ‘We believe in supporting our tenants’ success,’” he said.

Neighboring businesses also offered encouragement. “Every step of the way, there was somebody saying something that convinced me to take the next step,” he said. “And we also have the strength of a known name—everybody knows The Dog Store and Your Dog’s Best Friends.”

Now Belle View and surrounding doggies have a new place to sniff out treats, toys, and expert care. Stop in for a visit and check them out! The Dog Store is located at 1612-A Belle View Boulevard in Alexandria.