Pet store owner Valentina Levleva walked around her pet store, where the shelves once full of pet food, toys, and an array of colored products brought life to the store. Now, they are bare and empty. After eight years of working at Plaza Pet Store and serving customers, the time has come for Levleva to pack her bags and close the store.
Located on 18 Washington, St. Plaza Pet World has been a go-to destination for all pet lovers in the community, offering a wide variety of pet supplies at affordable prices. Whether you’re looking for food, toys, grooming products, or accessories for your furry and fuzzy friends, the shop has always prided itself on providing a vast selection to meet every pet’s needs, according to its website. For years, Plaza Pet World has been dedicated to providing for the local community, ensuring customers can find quality products without breaking the bank. Despite its success, Plaza Pet World has faced many challenges since it opened.
“When we came, the population of the town was supporting us so much, which I really appreciated,” Levleva said. “But after… the kids…finish school, the families move to different towns or states.”
As a result, the pet store is facing a lack of customers. There aren’t as many pet owners now in Tenafly, and most prefer to shop at larger markets due to the greater availability of pet supplies, according to Levleva. As the years pass, old customers move away after their kids leave for college, leading to a decline in foot traffic and purchases at local stores. This, in turn, results in decreased profits, creating challenges regarding financial stability.
Moreover, most pet owners in Tenafly don’t purchase their pets locally. This trend further contributes to the struggles faced by small, local pet stores like this one, as the initial bond between a customer and a pet store often begins with the purchase of a new pet. Justina Lee (’27), a student at Tenafly High School, owns a Maltese mix named Dream. Lee shared her own experience, explaining, “I got [my dog] from a different town.” This reflects a broader shift in consumer behavior, where pet owners are increasingly looking beyond their local community for pets, favoring breeders or pet shops in other areas. The lack of local pet sales not only impacts the store’s customer base but also creates a disconnect that can make it harder to maintain consistent business with returning customers. Unfortunately, this isn’t the only problem they’re facing.
“It’s very hard because, as the owner of a small business, I do everything by myself,” Levleva said. “I handle all deliveries, put everything on the shelf, and handle everything from ordering to delivering the food.”
In the shop, Levleva admits to the struggles she faced in managing it. Even though the pet store is quite small compared to other larger pet supply markets, being operated by a single person has its challenges. She has many daily tasks to complete, including restocking shelves , ordering new products, and delivering food. Unfortunately, since she is the only one on the job, she cannot take a break even during vacations. This challenging situation is difficult and often leads to stress, Levleva explains.
However, all these issues lead to the greatest problem: finance. “I’m paying now $8,000 a month,” she said. “If I stay, my rent will be $9,200 a month not including electricity or credit card fees.”
After eight years of running her business, the financial struggle has finally caught up to her. Fortunately, after a quick call with the very understanding owner, they agreed to give Ievleva another month to gather enough profit to pay for the rent. Unfortunately, despite the owner’s thoughtful offer, it may not provide much help, and there is no guarantee her store will thrive. In the end, no matter what, Levleva will have to close the store.
Overall, while the store will be greatly missed by the community and its long-time customers, Levleva remains at peace with her decision. Reflecting on the store’s closure, she laughingly shares that she is “so happy” to be closing the pet store, as her “mission is finished here.” For Levleva, the pet store was not only a business; it was a way to serve the local community by providing care and supplies for countless beloved pets over the years. However, with changing times and the evolving needs of pet owners, she feels confident that the time has come to move on to new endeavors. Though the doors of the store will soon close, her legacy and impact on Tenafly’s pet community will not be forgotten.
