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That's because Jacobson is the executive vice president of Pet Pantry Warehouse, a local, family owned retail pet supply company serving the needs of pets and their owners across Westchester and Fairfield counties.
Founded in 1945 by Mort Davis and Jac Cohen, the business started when the two World War II servicemen returned home from Europe with a new friend: a small British puppy. Avid animal lovers, Davis and Cohen opened the original Pet Pantry in Greenwich, and operated the store together until Davis' death in the late 1960s. Cohen continued to run the store until the mid 1990s.
"We were customers of the original Pet Pantry," said Jacobson, who grew up in Westchester. "Back then, there weren’t pet stores all over, and it was one of the few places in the area." The store was purchased from Cohen in 1995 by Jacobson's father, Barry. Today, Jacobson and his brother, Ari, have grown the company from its flagship Greenwich location to include stores in Rye and Larchmont, New York, as well as New Canaan and Wilton, Connecticut.
At all Pet Pantry Warehouse locations, shoppers can expect the best in both food and pet advice. "All employees go through nutritional training on their way to becoming pet consultants," said Jacobson. "We've invested greatly in the nutritional education of our staff, so that anyone who comes into our stores will find help for their pet's needs."
For Jacobson, the stores have become more than just places to sell pet products. "We do a tremendous amount of outreach," he said. For example, Pet Pantry Warehouse feeds K9 dogs in several area police forces, and is currently working with Blue Buffalo, a Wilton-based pet food manufacturer, to feed dogs in Armonk's Adopt-A-Dog shelter. "We want to ensure all animals in need of care get it," said Jacobson.
When looking to open the company's sixth store in Riverside, Connecticut, the Jacobson family sought team members who were as experienced and community driven as they were.
"When we were looking to finance the ground up development of our newest store, we were introduced to Bankwell," said Jacobson. After working to secure funding for the new construction, both Pet Pantry Warehouse and Bankwell discovered a natural partnership. "What we found was they’re a neighborhood bank through and through," said Jacobson. "You get a sense of caring from everyone, and feeling that you really know the people on the other side of the desk."
As their sixth store nears completion, Jacobson and the Pet Pantry Warehouse team are looking to help even more pets in Fairfield County. "A lot of what we do comes from our genuine care for the health and wellness of pets in the community," he said. "We take an old school approach to retail and want our stores to really be part of the neighborhood."
On Sunday, May 21, Pet Pantry Warehouse will host the 8th Annual New Canaan Dog Day, which benefits a variety of area animal shelters. For more information on the event and Pet Pantry Warehouse, click here.
