(Written by the residents of the West Village,
published by the Charles Street Association)
October 2005
Beasty Feast - Good for Man’s Best
Friends
By Barbara Chacour, an interview with co-owner Dimitri Kelembelidis
Jr.
When did you get into the business and who came up with
the clever name?
My parents started Beasty Feast at a Bleecker Street address in
1977 after they lost the lease on their delicatessen on Grove and
Bleecker. They had noted the number of deli customers buying pet
food. They came up with the name. We opened a store on Hudson Street
in 1979, moving to the larger 1,400 sq. ft. location in 1991, and
opened on the corner of Washington Street and Charles Street in
1993. I have been running the business since 2000, when my mother
died. My father is semi-retired.
What is the range of your product lines?
We have many products for dogs and cats plus feed for birds and
small animals. In addition to the commercial brands, we carry organic
and holistic pet food. Our customers are knowledgeable and want
high- end lines. We deal with a wide range of suppliers, large and
small, so we can offer unique products.
Do you benefit from the growing population of the neighborhood?
Yes. Washington Street was mostly parking lots when we opened our
Hudson St. store. Now we even have a tourist trade from the Meat
Market, so we have increased the selection of toys and accessories.
Some of the tourists are dogs—the Hotel Gansevoort allows
them.
How did you find your employees?
My parents hired Luis Leon, manager of the Hudson Street store,
and Oneida Rios, manager of the Washington Street store. They have
each been with us 15 years. Oneida’s sister Iris started working
with her 6 years ago.
Who are your competitors and what are your competitive
advantages?
Supermarkets, deli’s, other small pet stores and the big chains.
But location and delivery are important because the food and litter
are heavy. We stay well-stocked. Our computer set-up allows customers
to have standing orders, which they find convenient. If they don’t
have a doorman to receive delivery, we can deliver at the time the
customer sets. We deliver between sessions to a customer who is
a psychiatrist.
We offer pet grooming in the Hudson Street store
by Ms. Mel Lucci who has a wide following.
Our employees are a competitive advantage. They know and care about
the customers and their pets. Once we got a call from a customer
complaining that her cat was upset because our delivery man, Danny,
left without patting her that day.
Many customers have pets they have adopted through the animal rescue
set-up at our Washington Street store, and they seem loyal to us
for that.
What is your relationship with the animal rescuers?
Nancy Gambert, a local resident who founded The Renaissance Project
Animal Rescue, Inc.*, approached me 2 years ago. I was receptive
to offering space for kittens and cats which needed homes. Since
then, they have found homes for about 250 cats and dogs, mostly
in the West Village. They rescue animals from the city shelter or
from the street and get veterinary care for them. Oneida and Iris
give them day-today care and socialization. The adoptions are handled
by Nancy Gambert.
Do you have pets?
Yes--two dogs and a cat. One of my dogs is a Maltese I used to keep
while the owner traveled; eventually she asked me to keep it. The
other dog is a mini-Schnauzer and the cat is a long-haired calico.
How is the business doing and do you have any new business
ideas?
Fine. It has grown every year. I just want to go on taking care
of the neighborhood. Our customers are friendly and I get to know
people.
There are similarities with our September story by Nathaniel Garber
Schoen about his family store.
Yes, Nate and I compare notes, and visit each other’s stores.
* Donations to The
Renaissance Project Animal Rescue, Inc are tax deductible
to the fullest extent of the law: 332 Bleecker Street, K-17, New
York, N. Y. 10014 www.renaissance-animals.com
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