Help Wendy start a New Dog Cafe

Many of us saw Wendy’s message this week. After being given the keys to our Locke Street location 5 years ago this month, we are sad to say goodbye. On October 31st we are being evicted. Our landlord first decided to significantly raise our rent and before we could figure it out, decided to sell the property and have their lawyer put into our mailbox an eviction notice to vacate the property by October 31st. A property we have had the keys 5 years for..just like that. Why do small businesses not have more protection from property owners like this? Why do small businesses not have more protection during covid? I have taken out very large loans to keep this place going during the pandemic and bought drawings and surveys for the property for a liquor license to keep up with all of the licensed establishments allowing dogs on their patios now; although a liquor license has always been in our plan. We also put in a beautiful new and enclosed fence so the dogs can be off leash, if their family chooses. All these things the property owner was made very aware we were doing and planning for and said nothing. It’s all useless to me now, but still has to be paid for.

It doesn’t seem okay that in 60 days we have to say goodbye to you with nowhere to go, but close our doors and carry overwhelming debt meant to be covered by the café. Small business owners please take note, learn from our situation and be aware that it matters if your landlord is decent. It pays to do some research on them just as much as they are checking up on you and do what you can to safely cover yourself when your lease runs out or the owners decide to sell, in your contract. When I wanted to put a clause in our lease regarding sale of the property, the owner would not put it in a lease, but told me they were never going to sell the property. Look where I am now.

There are not many words that can say how much we will miss all of you and the lovely pets we have gotten to know over the years and all of the love and support we have felt, but thank you for these years with all of you.

Our hope is to eventually find a new place for our dog cafe to call home.

At this time, we are looking at our last day of being open on Locke as Sunday, October 17th, 2021.

Love,

Wendy, Heidi & Pecan