Central Bark opens its first Doggy Day Care in West Columbia, SC
January 25, 2021
Husband and wife team and local residents introduce Central Bark’s unique approach to doggy day care and enrichment to West Columbia and surrounding communities
Central Bark, the doggy day care industry pioneer, announces the grand opening of its first location in West Columbia on Saturday, February 6, 2021 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The 11,000 square-foot space located at 2931 Augusta Road is owned and operated by local residents Anthony and Courtney Girolamo. Grand opening festivities are open to the public, observing pandemic health and safety recommendations, and guest pups should be leashed, socialized and vaccinated.
“I grew up with dogs and the thought of being around them all day, every day sounded really good to me,” said Anthony, co-owner Central Bark West Columbia. “Being in retail for over a decade gave me a solid background in customer service and operations and with Central Bark’s successful corporate process and structure, joining the system made perfect sense for us. Now I get to combine my people skills with my passion for animals.”
Along with a staff of six, Anthony, a 14-year veteran of Publix Super Markets, runs the day-to-day operations at Central Bark while Courtney, a high school principal and math teacher, will continue her career in education. The couple believes everyone’s fur babies deserve the same top-notch care as those in the Girolamo household: two Great Danes, a three-legged shepherd mix and five cats. Their two human children are teenagers, Maddie and Ryan.
For nearly 20 years, Central Bark has drawn in dogs and their owners across the country to experience its Enrichment Doggy Day Care, which combines Central Bark’s industry-leading doggy day care expertise with the latest in canine behavior science. Enrichment Doggy Day Care provides a healthy and balanced blend of exercise, social group play, learning, rest, and “TLC” to help dogs be healthy, happy and well-rounded members of the family. Furthermore, Central Bark also offers dog boarding, baths, grooming, a retail market, training and more.
“There is something simple and beautiful about a well-adjusted dog that everyone can relate to – it’s very strong and powerful,” said Chris Gaba, co-founder of Central Bark. “We are thrilled to introduce Central Bark to West Columbia residents – two and four-legged alike – and look forward to Anthony and Courtney growing their business. We encourage everyone to stop by on February 6th for the grand opening or as soon as possible.”
As part of its grand opening celebration on February 6, Central Bark West Columbia will open its 8,000 square-foot indoor facility and 3,000 square-foot outdoor play area for public tours. Dogs – as long as they’re leashed, socialized and vaccinated – will be able to take part in free, interactive enrichment activities including snuffle mats, colored ball pools, puzzles and other games. Guests can register for two free days of day care at Central Bark and there will be dog adoptions presented by Final Victory Animal Rescue. Adhering to local guidelines, Central Bark Columbia will maintain social distancing recommendations and follow local COVID-19 protocols during its grand opening.
“There’s always opportunity in change,” said Gaba. “The rise in dog adoptions since the onset of the pandemic has allowed Central Bark to continue our growth trajectory. Opening West Columbia is the latest of nearly a dozen new locations planned through the end of the year, positioning us as a brand with tremendous growth potential well into the future.”
The new Central Bark West Columbia is located at 2931 Augusta Road, West Columbia, SC 29170. The facility is open Monday – Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. To contact the store directly visit Central Bark West Columbia or call 803-866-2275.
About Central Bark
The Central Bark franchise system and Barkley Ventures, Inc. was founded by Jackie Jordan and Chris Gaba in 2003. For nearly 20 years, the brand has grown to 35 locations across more than a dozen states. The company has hosted over two million dog visits and both founders still own and manage the company. Central Bark is a VetFran participant, the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) veteran program, and offers a franchise fee discount to qualifying veterans. Central Bark is also an IFA MinorityFran participant. For more information about franchising with Central Bark, visit centralbarkusa.com/franchising or call 866-799-2275.
