Pet Wants opens brick-and-mortar shop in Olde Town Arvada

Holiday Markets.

“The people were nice, and there’s a nice community of small businesses,” Hodge said of Arvada. “There’s great foot traffic; it’s close to Denver while still being a suburb. As much as this area is growing, this is the most established of the suburbs.”

BY RYLEE DUNN RDUNN@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

In the beginning, Sharon Hodge just wanted to find healthy food for her pups; Olive and Petey. Both the pups are cancer survivors, and Hodge didn’t want to give them anything she hadn’t properly vetted.

Hodge became involved with Pet Wants — a national pet food franchise — while she was living in Nashville. She fell in love with the company’s mission; fresh, organic pet food made mostly domestically.

Hodge’s Pet Wants location opened up shop at the corner of Grandview Avenue and Yukon Street — the former location of New To You, a defunct consignment store — earlier this month.

When Hodge moved from Tennessee to Colorado, she was inspired to open her own franchise location. She says she was drawn to Arvada because of the community feel she experienced while participating in local events like the farmer’s market, Second Saturdays and the Olde Town Square

Pet Wants’ food is manufactured in New York state every six weeks, which keeps the store’s stock fresh.

“My whole thing is, ‘Everything should be natural,’” Hodge said. “I don’t want to give my pets anything that I don’t 100% trust. Pet health is so important because they’re my family. I won’t carry anything I wouldn’t give to them.”

Hodge said she hopes the store can become a community hub that supports local vendors.

“I don’t want this to just be a pet store, I want it to be a community gathering space,” Hodge said. “I want it to be a place for people to make friends and connect with people in their community.”

To that end, Pet Want’s Arvada location will feature events, including pet massage therapy and rescue pup yoga. Information about events can be found on the Arvada store’s social media.

The Arvada Pet Wants location is currently closed on Mondays and open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m Tuesdays and Wednesdays, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

2023 Boards and Commissions Applications

If you’re looking for a way to bring about positive change in these turmoiled times, get local and apply to join a Golden board or commission. Board and commission members help shape the future of Golden. They bring their expertise and ideas to the forefront, interact and represent all of the segments of our City, and provide input so that Golden can make informed and inclusive decisions. Be part of building a Golden where everyone can thrive by applying today.

The City of Golden is recruiting residents who wish to participate by volunteering on the City’s Boards and Commissions. To find out more about the board and commission application process, visit www.cityofgolden.net/government/boards-commissions/. The deadline to submit applications is March 3, 2023 at 5 pm. Interviews are scheduled with City Council the evening of Tuesday, April 4.

Golden City Council is recruiting applicants to fill the following appointments to:

Downtown Development Authority – Meets the 3rd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm (2 vacancies) Applicants must reside, be a business owner, lessee or own real property in the downtown development district

Economic Development Commission – Meets the 2nd Thursday of each month at 6:30 pm (2 vacancies)

Fire Pension Board - Meets quarterly (2 vacancies)

Golden Urban Renewal Authority – Meets the 2nd Monday of each month at 6:30 pm (1 vacancy)

Jefferson County Correction Board - Meets the 4th Monday at 7:30 am (1 alternate vacancy)

Parks, Recreation and Museums Advisory Board – Meets 1st and 3rd Thursday (4 vacancies)

Planning Commission - Meets 1st and 3rd Wednesday at 6:30 pm (4 vacancies)

Public Art Commission - Meets 1st Thursday 9-10:30 am (2 vacancies)

For additional information or questions contact the City Clerk's Office at 303-384-8014 or clerks@cityofgolden.net.