By Ashley Gurbal Kritzer Senior Reporter, Tampa Bay Business Journal
Royal Pets Market & Resort — a concept that offers veterinary services, boarding, day care and retail merchandise — will open its first urban store in Midtown Tampa.
Royal Pets has locations in Carrollwood, Palm Harbor, St. Petersburg and Orlando, most of which are around 15,000 square feet. The Midtown location will be 8,000 square feet.
While the location is small for Royal Pets, it’s a sizable retail tenant for Bromley Cos., the developer of Midtown. The novel coronavirus pandemic has weakened an already challenged retail market. Even the hardiest of retail tenants — gyms, restaurants and service-oriented businesses — are struggling in the wake of the pandemic, and there are few retail users seeking 8,000 square feet right now.
“Royal Pets Market & Resort, a local boutique concept that has earned national awards and recognition, has selected Midtown Tampa for its first urban location,” Bromley CEO Nicholas Haines said in a statement. “Those who will work, live, shop and play at Midtown now have a high-end destination for their pets, too.”
The service aspect of Royal Pets makes it the type of business that can drive foot traffic to the property, between its veterinary and grooming facilities. Bromley is billing Royal Pets’ day care as an amenity for residents of Novel Midtown and tenants at Midtown’s three office buildings.
Midtown is aiming to cast itself as pet friendly; a news release on the Royal Pets lease details dog-friendly menus and outdoor seating at the district’s restaurants as well as its off-leash dog park.
“I’ve been searching for just the right location in this area for more than five years,” Royal Pets founder and CEO Denise Wolin said in a statement. “When I learned about the amazing synergy of tenants opening in Midtown, I knew this would be the perfect place to expand Royal Pets.”
