New Valdese pet resort to bring jobs, tourism, and services

“Groom, play, stay” is what makes this upcoming pet grooming and pet resort a great place for downtown Valdese.

Two longtime friends are partnering to bring to Burke County the kind of facility typically only seen in bigger cities like Asheville and Charlotte. Their venture will create 20 jobs, bring visitors to central Burke County, and stir tourism in the area.

Brittany Buchanan, a former Freedom High School teacher and dog show competitor/trainer, and Markie James, owner of Bark Side Pet Grooming, share the same goal and passion for putting the dog first. While a customer waits for their furry friend, they could walk downtown and eat or shop locally in downtown Valdese.

This business venture combines James’s business and the pet resort Barktopia. The location will be built on the lot of 104 Roller St. SW. in Valdese, behind the Dollar General. The two hope to open by Labor Day weekend or late summer/early fall.

Behind-the-scenes work, such as financial planning, paperwork, and architectural renderings is completed. Now, the land is being cleared, and construction should start soon.

Surrounded by kennels and mementos of the Bark Side business, the two sit shoulder-to-shoulder on a purple bench and discuss the idea that started over two and a half years ago.

LAYING FOUNDATION

“It’s a dream that was born during our first book club meeting where we were the only two members,” Buchanan said as the two chuckled, “and Markie and I have known each other since middle school.”

Buchanan shows dogs while James has been a groomer for 17 years, but James had approached her to help with showing her poodle. The two united and talked about their dreams.

It had always been Buchanan’s goal to open a boarding and day camp facility, but she didn’t want to do it on her own. James said she had been successfully running her grooming business for the last seven years and thought to herself, “If I can make that happen, we can definitely make this happen.”

That book club meeting laid the foundation of their business venture, and they began planning.

The design process took around a year as they narrowed down the different features that they both found beneficial to their business.

“We designed it from the mindset of already being a business owner and someone else that is already entrenched in the experience of what could make this facility the best it possibly could be on every avenue. We’ve literally sat down with the architect and circled here and did this and did that,” James said.

Looking at the outside, there will be flat land and dedicated parking to make the area more accessible for older clients.

“One of the issues that we have in this location is parking,” James said. “Clients tend to have a harder time. Even my senior citizen clients, they’ll call, and we’ll come get their pets, but the new place will have our own parking lot.”

Of the two-story building, the second floor will feature 4,000 square feet of training space with plans to host classes and events by themselves or other dog-related organizations. These events will let pet owners watch their dogs, mingle, and enjoy themselves. They also plan to partner with Paws & Claws for community outreach.

There will be indoor and outdoor play yards with a rotation of four different places where dogs can intermingle. Little dogs will have around 1,000 square feet, and 4,000 square feet for bigger dogs.

Buchanan said that as the dog goes about its day, staff check in with gentle touches to gauge its mood, giving more cuddles when needed.

The space will also have a quiet room, office area, and separate spaces for blow drying/washing. They will have upgraded equipment like an electric tub that can be raised and lowered.

The two-story building will have poured-concrete walls, which determines when the construction team will grade the land. Temperatures can’t be too hot or too cold to allow for proper setting. Once the new location is ready, Bark Side Grooming will move out of its current location at 132 Main St. E and into its new Barktopia home.

EXCITEMENT

An outpouring of support for the new location has come from many clients, even shedding tears with James.

“I have a few clients that I have had for the entire seven years or longer, since before I opened my business. I told them what we’re working on, but I told them to be quiet. I had a mom and daughter in my lobby, and they were crying with me, happy tears,” James said. “We were hugging and stuff. I’ve been doing their dogs for so long, because I originally opened this in my basement at my house, and to see me go from that to here to there. They know it’s my passion. They know it’s what I love.”

James also thanked her employees and her clients for making her business continue to thrive.

“I’m just excited to get started and meet all the new dogs that I will fall in love with,” Buchanan said.