The Owners...an all girls club! Tara, Mary Ann, Sheri, and Khris
Saturday, October 30, 2010
Almost there...
Photos from the just before party...
Child Labor at its best!
Scarlett will work for Halloween Candy...
The Crew... this fine crew of people worked many long hours for the past 4 weeks to make the transformation a reality! Thanks a million times over..
Friday, October 29, 2010
Opening Day
Well, the weekend leading up to opening day is dawning and the mad rush is on to finalize the renovations. We set an extremely aggressive goal to demolition, renovate, and refinish nearly 7000 square feet of building space in just over 4 weeks and it looks as though we might actually make it. There have been crazy long hours, amazing volunteer help from family and friends, a lot of laughter and a general get-it-done attitude during the entire process.
Even with a few hours off here and there to enjoy the All American Quarter Horse Congress, continue work at the other businesses (Canine Companion and Fields Quarter Horses), and an occasional movie (Secretariat is a MUST See)- it looks as though we will just finish.
Today, the ladies and I (there are four of us who entered this venture together) will be finalizing our loan at the bank and Petropolis will be funded. This evening, we are sharing the excitement with the people who have labored so diligently at 214 Frogtown Road for the past month by having a Cajun themed celebration. Good food, good times...and the start of a great new venture!
Even with a few hours off here and there to enjoy the All American Quarter Horse Congress, continue work at the other businesses (Canine Companion and Fields Quarter Horses), and an occasional movie (Secretariat is a MUST See)- it looks as though we will just finish.
Today, the ladies and I (there are four of us who entered this venture together) will be finalizing our loan at the bank and Petropolis will be funded. This evening, we are sharing the excitement with the people who have labored so diligently at 214 Frogtown Road for the past month by having a Cajun themed celebration. Good food, good times...and the start of a great new venture!
Monday, October 18, 2010
Petropolis by the Numbers
6000- number of promotional magnets ordered from Anthony the Magnet King
100- number of stainless steel bowls and pails purchased for the dining enjoyment of our guests
67- number of Downtown Doggie Suites
32- number of special pet therapeutic beds ordered today for the comfort of guests at The Pet Hotel
23- number of days in a row since renovations began
21- number of fast food restaurants located within 2 miles of my new workplace
14- number of wrought iron gates needed for pet holding areas
12- number of Condos located in Kitty City
11- number of stitches required by persons working on Petropolis renovations
9- number of newly constructed Uptown Doggie Luxury Suites
7- number of refurbished Midtown Doggie Suites
8- number of appliances purchased this week (2 shop vacs, 2 washers, 2 dryers, 2 refrigerators)
6- number of couches and chairs donated for Doggie Lounging enjoyment
5- number of various varmints who have been removed from the premises (3 raccoons, 2 groundhogs)
4- number of girls who own Petropolis (Khris, MaryAnn, Sheri, and Tara)
3- number of carpenters who I have hired to do the same job
2- number of opportunities in life to own/run this great Pet Facility
1- number of German Shepherd protection dogs who will live at Petropolis
0- number of days since anyone was injured during the demolition and renovations
100- number of stainless steel bowls and pails purchased for the dining enjoyment of our guests
67- number of Downtown Doggie Suites
32- number of special pet therapeutic beds ordered today for the comfort of guests at The Pet Hotel
23- number of days in a row since renovations began
21- number of fast food restaurants located within 2 miles of my new workplace
14- number of wrought iron gates needed for pet holding areas
12- number of Condos located in Kitty City
11- number of stitches required by persons working on Petropolis renovations
9- number of newly constructed Uptown Doggie Luxury Suites
7- number of refurbished Midtown Doggie Suites
8- number of appliances purchased this week (2 shop vacs, 2 washers, 2 dryers, 2 refrigerators)
6- number of couches and chairs donated for Doggie Lounging enjoyment
5- number of various varmints who have been removed from the premises (3 raccoons, 2 groundhogs)
4- number of girls who own Petropolis (Khris, MaryAnn, Sheri, and Tara)
3- number of carpenters who I have hired to do the same job
2- number of opportunities in life to own/run this great Pet Facility
1- number of German Shepherd protection dogs who will live at Petropolis
0- number of days since anyone was injured during the demolition and renovations
Sunday, October 17, 2010
The Birth of Petropolis
Life is a winding road sometimes. Mine has had some great straight stretches- where the road reaches far into the distance with nothing but straight lines and clear sailing. But inevitably, there is always a curve ahead. A certain property located at 214 Frogtown Road in an upscale hamlet called Union, Kentucky has popped up along my life's road several times. Like a person in a dream sequence, who isn't sure if they are moving forward or backward, the same property and opportunity seems to keep showing up on my journey.
The property was originally known as Joyland Kennels. It was developed in the 1970's and was Northern Kentucky's first commercial boarding kennel establishment. Throughout the years, Joyland Kennels became a fixture in the local culture- everyone took their dogs to Joyland at one time or another. The original owners aged and eventually sold the facility and both its fixtures and reputation fell into disrepair. In 2001, the business and property were offered at public auction and with about 7 days planning, my husband and I along with a fearless pair of investors purchased the property. We tackled the renovations with a vengeance and reopened several months later new and improved as Camp Canine. For 6 wonderful years, Camp Canine served our family and customers well.
In 2006, Wayne and I sold Camp Canine- having watched this labor of love (did I mention LABOR?) grow into a beautiful adolescent business full of promise and prosperity. The new owners of the business immediately set out to make changes and unfortunately, undermined some of the concepts and foundations that Camp Canine had been built upon. Soon, it was faltering again. (Side note: Ownership and Management of a large commercial Pet Boarding, Daycare, and Grooming business is not for the faint of heart!). During the next few years, the new owners continued to make changes including renaming the business Union Pet Resort. To no avail, they simply could not find their way back to the formulas which the success of Camp Canine and Joyland Kennels were based on. Forced into bankruptcy, the doors closed on this cornerstone of the community in November 2009.
I loosely followed the happenings surrounding the property over the next 6-8 months. I noticed as the unloved property began to look abandoned. I noticed that no cars seemed to come and go after the sale at the Courthouse Door. It seemed that the legacy would be lost permanently this time. And then, a friend mentioned that they had seen an auction posting for the property in September. Two days before the auction, I could not resist the urge to drive into the entry and found the doors unlocked and no one around. I was able to walk through and assess the changes which had been made, the damage which had occurred, and my mind's eye could not help but still see the opportunity and promise it offered.
One day before the auction, I began to make phone calls to a few select friends. "Did you ever want to own a dog kennel?" I knew I would need reinforcements financially to pull this off. The partnership was formed and we went to the auction on a sunny Sunday afternoon with hopes in hand. And, after some tense bidding competition, we were awarded the winning bid. So, the journey was renewed. Just 9 years after purchasing 214 Frogtown Road at public auction in a partnership- I found myself crossing this same stretch of road once more.
Now, that's where we stand today. I've traveled this stretch before. Different passengers in my car this time, but I know the twists and turns of this road . And, I suppose- here we go again! The birth of Petropolis...home of The Pet Hotel, The Spa, The Training Center, and The Playplace.
The property was originally known as Joyland Kennels. It was developed in the 1970's and was Northern Kentucky's first commercial boarding kennel establishment. Throughout the years, Joyland Kennels became a fixture in the local culture- everyone took their dogs to Joyland at one time or another. The original owners aged and eventually sold the facility and both its fixtures and reputation fell into disrepair. In 2001, the business and property were offered at public auction and with about 7 days planning, my husband and I along with a fearless pair of investors purchased the property. We tackled the renovations with a vengeance and reopened several months later new and improved as Camp Canine. For 6 wonderful years, Camp Canine served our family and customers well.
In 2006, Wayne and I sold Camp Canine- having watched this labor of love (did I mention LABOR?) grow into a beautiful adolescent business full of promise and prosperity. The new owners of the business immediately set out to make changes and unfortunately, undermined some of the concepts and foundations that Camp Canine had been built upon. Soon, it was faltering again. (Side note: Ownership and Management of a large commercial Pet Boarding, Daycare, and Grooming business is not for the faint of heart!). During the next few years, the new owners continued to make changes including renaming the business Union Pet Resort. To no avail, they simply could not find their way back to the formulas which the success of Camp Canine and Joyland Kennels were based on. Forced into bankruptcy, the doors closed on this cornerstone of the community in November 2009.
I loosely followed the happenings surrounding the property over the next 6-8 months. I noticed as the unloved property began to look abandoned. I noticed that no cars seemed to come and go after the sale at the Courthouse Door. It seemed that the legacy would be lost permanently this time. And then, a friend mentioned that they had seen an auction posting for the property in September. Two days before the auction, I could not resist the urge to drive into the entry and found the doors unlocked and no one around. I was able to walk through and assess the changes which had been made, the damage which had occurred, and my mind's eye could not help but still see the opportunity and promise it offered.
One day before the auction, I began to make phone calls to a few select friends. "Did you ever want to own a dog kennel?" I knew I would need reinforcements financially to pull this off. The partnership was formed and we went to the auction on a sunny Sunday afternoon with hopes in hand. And, after some tense bidding competition, we were awarded the winning bid. So, the journey was renewed. Just 9 years after purchasing 214 Frogtown Road at public auction in a partnership- I found myself crossing this same stretch of road once more.
Now, that's where we stand today. I've traveled this stretch before. Different passengers in my car this time, but I know the twists and turns of this road . And, I suppose- here we go again! The birth of Petropolis...home of The Pet Hotel, The Spa, The Training Center, and The Playplace.
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