Jill Schramm/MDN Helen Gotvslee, store leader at Pet Supplies Plus in Minot, stands among the varied merchandise available at the new store on North Hill.

There’s something for just about every pet lover at a northwest Minot store that opened Dec. 18.

Pet Supplies Plus, a locally owned franchise, has a goal to offer a hassle-free way for customers to find better products and celebrate the fun of pet ownership. It is located in the Marketplace Foods mall at 2215 16th St. NW and has an affiliation with the Marketplace corporation.

“It’s the first one in North Dakota and we are hoping to open several more,” said local store leader Helen Gotvaslee. Also leading the 13-member store team are senior store director Zac Miller and assistant store leader Shiho Peckham.

As a Minot local, Miller has more than 20 years of experience in retail and has overseen various businesses in the Minot area. Gotvaslee has 25 years of store experience with several retail chains in North Dakota. Originally from Okinawa, Japan, Peckham has worked with merchandise and shipping coordination in grocery distribution.

Store leadership will team up with local animal shelters, rescue organizations and nonprofits to host year-round adoption events, fundraisers and pet food and product drives.

A cat adoption program will begin in January in partnership with an animal shelter. The store will serve as a location for people to meet and adopt a cat.

Pet Supplies Plus will host a grand opening, Saturday and, Jan. 9 and 10. There will be prize giveaways and special sales. The primary giveaways are:

– Free nail trims with current rabies vaccination.

– Free small bag of dog or cat food for the first 100 store visitors on Sunday.

– Grand opening scratch-off tickets for special sales promotions.

– Promotional specials and prize giveaways all weekend.

Pet Supplies Plus offers a wide selection of pet foods, including natural foods, frozen foods and foods formulated for special nutritional needs.

The store’s primary brand is Redford, which is new to the Minot area, Gotvaslee said.

“It seems to be a popular seller because it’s a grain-free product for dogs and cats,” she said. Redford products offer omega oils and come in various formulas to meet different health needs.

Pet Supplies Plus also is focused on offering a rich in-store experience for “neighbors,” which is its term for customers. The store’s 13 team members are extensively trained in natural and holistic foods and can answer a broad range of questions about dogs, cats, birds, reptiles and fish. Shoppers also can take advantage of the free Preferred Pet Club, which offers members regular coupons on products they purchase frequently and monthly specials.

Customer assistance in carrying out heavy items is always available, and online ordering with curbside pickup and home delivery will begin in January. In response to the coronavirus pandemic, the location has routine daily cleanups and requires employees and customers to wear masks at all times.

Coming in January will be a section of the store dedicated to reptiles and fish. The store plans to have 20 feet of tanks for freshwater fish, Gotvaslee said. Also coming are guinea pigs, hamsters, some kinds of snakes, chameleons and ferrets.

In addition, the store offers amenities such as a $10 dog-wash station with three bays and all supplies provided. An indoor dog play area will open in January, and a grooming service begins this week.

People are welcome to shop with their dogs if the animals are on leashes and well mannered. People who bring their pets may be invited to be featured on the Pet Supplies Plus Minot page on Facebook.

The new store is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To contact Pet Supplies Plus of Minot, call 857-4070 or visit www.petsuppliesplus.com.

Headquartered in Livonia, Mich., Pet Supplies Plus has more than 460 locations in 33 states.