Urban Mutt opens Brook eld location

With new store, Brook eld is going to the dogs

e Urban Mutt opens location in Hollywood storefront

By JACKIE PISANO

Contributing Reporter

For over a decade, Chad Lopez and Cynthia Gaspar have dedicated their efforts to enriching the lives of hundreds of west suburban dog owners through the caninecentric services, events and expertise offered at their store, The Urban Mutt.

With two locations in Berwyn’s Depot District and downtown LaGrange, the husband-wife duo spent years building relationships with clients, striving to offer them a unique, old-fashioned, customer service-based approach to shopping for all their dogs’ needs in an environment cozier than that of a big-box pet retailer.

Twelve years after opening their original storefront, The Urban Mutt is now tackling a new challenge — weaving itself into the neighborhood-centric fabric of Brookfield.

On March 10, The Urban Mutt’s new Brookfield location quietly opened its doors at 8520 Brookfield Ave., turning an outdated storefront into a modern, onestop shop for all your dog’s needs, from food and health to play and safety.

The new Brookfield location signaled the closure of the original Berwyn store, providing the business with larger square footage and an introduction to a community the couple says seemed eager for a niche pet store.

The Urban Mutt’s origins trace to the late aughts. Lopez, who previously worked as an on-air carpenter on HGTV’s “Designed to Sell,” began learning more about dogs, including the variety of products and services blossoming in the industry. In February 2009, he and his wife launched an online web show called “The Urban Mutt,” featuring Chicagoland’s dog-friendly services and dog owners.

As Lopez and Gaspar began learning more about the world of dog products and services, they began hosting in-person, dog-friendly events. People began asking them where their retail store was, and while they didn’t have their own business at the time, they figured, “Why not take the plunge?”

In December 2009, they opened their first storefront in Berwyn’s Depot District, and it grew fast enough that Lopez and Gaspar decided to open a second location, settling on LaGrange’s bustling downtown.

Lopez says what has set The Urban Mutt apart from other pet retailers all these years is simple — the mom-and-pop business’ approach to truly getting to know its customers.

“Our main focus is always going to be customer service,” he explained. “We know our customers, we know what their dogs need. We’re able to pivot a lot faster than a bigger store, so if somebody needs something we don’t have, we can specially order it in and get it pretty fast. And, we carry a lot of things that the big box stores don’t really carry — a smaller, more curated selection.”

Fast-forward to 2019 — despite a looming pandemic, The Urban Mutt was busier than ever, and Lopez and Gaspar decided it was time to expand.

Originally, they figured they would keep the LaGrange location but look for a larger Berwyn location. However, after looking around for a new space in Berwyn, they say they couldn’t find any space which fit their needs.

Then, during the pandemic, they wondered about pivoting to more of an online sales and delivery-style model. They considered having the LaGrange store be their sole storefront, and a new, larger location serve as more of a warehouse-style business with delivery options.

In November 2021, the couple closed on a new property in Brookfield, and as they began renovating the Brookfield space, they quickly noticed how many dogs were in the immediate area and were surprised by the amount of foot traffic.

So, they made the decision to transform the Brookfield location into a full-fledged retail experience.

“It was really the people in the area that changed our mind,” Lopez said. “They

JACKIE PISANO/Contributor Now open in Brook eld, e Urban Mutt is a cozy version of a full service retail shop for your pups. Cynthia Gasper and Chad Lopez, husband and wife duo, see heavy paw tra c already.

IN THIS ISSUE

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April 20-27 BIG WEEK

Minding the achievement gap

The League of Women Voters of the LaGrange Area and the CommUNITY Diversity Group of LaGrange will host a special Zoom program “The Achievement Gap: What Are Our Schools Doing about It?” on April 21 at 7 p.m.

The program will focus on what e orts elementary school districts 102, 105 and Lyons Township High School District 204 are undertaking, what the results are and how they are being measured.

Free and open to the public. Register online by visiting lagrangelwv.org and clicking the registration link on the home page. Email league@lagrangelwv.org with questions.

And more

■ Riverside Arts Center, 32 E. Quincy St., hosts its Riverside-Brook eld High School Annual Advanced Placement Art Exhibition through May 7 in the Freeark Gallery and Sculpture Garden. The group show includes paintings, drawings, sculptures and photographs by students in their sophomore, junior and senior years. Gallery hours are Thursday through Saturday from 1 to 5 p.m.

There’s also aphotography exhibition, “Love You Bro” featuring the work of Stephanie Graham in the lobby of the Riverside Township Hall, 27 Riverside Road, Riverside, through June 30. Hours are Mon.Thurs. 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Friday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. ■ North Riverside Public Library, 2400 Desplaines Ave., invites you to make an appointment to visit the Ancestry Help Desk on April 22 from 2 to 6 p.m. There’s also Club de Lectura (hybrid) discussing “Cometierra” by Dolores Reyes on April 22 at 10:30 a.m.; Scrapbooking Drop-in on April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m.; in-person Chair Yoga on April 25 at 6:30 p.m. and Mary’s Monthly Movie (“Earth”) on April 26 at 2 p.m. Register for

Earth Day shredding, recycling events

Brook eld Zoo and North Riverside Parks & Rec will each host Earth Day events on April 23.

North Riverside will host an Earth Day Shred Event from 10 a.m. to noon in the police department parking lot, 2359 Desplaines Ave. There will be a document shredding truck onsite to shred all personal or unwanted paper. Leading up to the event, there will be shredding containers at the Village Commons, 2401 Desplaines Ave.

Brook eld Zoo will host a Party for the Planet recycling event from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the main parking lot at 8400 31st St.

Gather electronics, textiles and used books and dispose of them in an environmentally friendly way. For a complete list of items that will be accepted visit CZS.org/PartyPlanet. There is no charge to drop o items for recycling.

Alternative fuels car show

Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., continues its Earth Month celebration on April 23 with an Alternative Fuels Car Show from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Brook eld Conservation Commission will host an exposition of alternative-fuel vehicles owned by Brook eld residents, featuring everything from ex fuels to electric engines.

Tito Gobbi as Rigoletto

Riverside Lyric Chapter presents ‘Rigoletto’

The Riverside Chapter of Lyric Opera presents the 1946 lm of Verdi’s “Rigoletto,” directed by Carmine Gallone and starring Tito Gobbi, Marcella Govoni and Lina Pagliughi in the Community Room of the Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, on April 24 at 2 p.m.

The all-ages event will be presented by Noel Perlman. Register to attend at riversidelibrary.org/ events.

programs at northriversidelibrary.org/events-new. ■ Linda Sokol Francis Brook eld Library, 3541 Park Ave., invites kids in grades 1-5 to Geek Lab: Water Pollution and Oil Spills on April 21 at 4 p.m. There’s also Yoga Storytime: Dream Green (ages 2-5) on April 22 at 1 p.m.; and Dream Green Take & Make Crafts (all ages with caregiver) all day on April 22.

Adults can join Catherine Lambrecht for Family Heirloom recipes from the Illinois State Fair on April 25 at 7 p.m. Call 708-485-6917 or visit brook eld.evanced.info/signup to register for programs.

■ Riverside Public Library, 1 Burling Road, in collaboration with Illinois Libraries invites you to Nick O erman and Je Tweedy in Conversation, a special Zoom event on April 27 at 7 p.m. There’s also Mindfulness Together meditation with Gina Consolino-Barsotti on April 22 at noon in the Community Room. To register for programs visit riversidelibrary.org/events. ■ The Brook eld Elks Lodge, 9022 31st St., hosts bingo the second Sunday of every month. Doors open at 1 p.m. and games start at 2 p.m. with cash payouts.