Pet Junction Pet Supply & Grooming celebrated its grand opening Sept. 12 at 4044 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 100. 

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Dogs joined their owners Saturday morning as Rancho Cordova welcomed a new business built around something owner Jim Dempsey has known nearly his entire life, the pet industry.

Pet Junction Pet Supply & Grooming celebrated its grand opening Sept. 12 at 4044 Sunrise Blvd., Suite 100, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, vendors, raffles, giveaways and representatives from the city and local organizations.

The independent pet store, owned and operated by Jim and Jennie Dempsey, offers pet food, treats, toys and other supplies along with professional grooming and a self-service dog wash.

Pet Junction employees stayed busy during the grand opening as attendees browsed and shopped for pet food, treats, toys and other products.

For Jim Dempsey, opening the store marks a return to the type of business where his career began.

“I’ve been in the pet industry for 25, 30 years,” Dempsey said. “Growing up my parents had pet stores.”

Dempsey said much of his career was spent on the other side of the retail business, traveling throughout California and other states while selling products to pet store owners. After years on the road, he began looking for a change.

“The local community stuff, the local city stuff, the mom-and-pop stores have been who I am,” Dempsey said. “I saw the opportunity here in Rancho Cordova, in the community, and seeing the growth of the families that were out here.”

Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood welcomed the business and highlighted Dempsey’s background in the industry during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

The store places a particular emphasis on services and pet nutrition, Dempsey said.

Pet Junction employs full-time groomers and offers self-service washing stations where customers can use the store’s tubs, shampoos, towels and dryers.

“Come here, make the mess here. Don’t make the mess at home,” Dempsey said. “We clean it up; you can go home.”

Beyond grooming, Dempsey said he wants employees to be able to help customers understand pet food ingredients, supplements and differences among products.

“We’re going to be able to answer the questions that your box stores can’t,” he said. “If somebody wants to better understand what to feed their pets, the difference between frozen dog food and refrigerated dog food, we have that understanding and can relay that information to the consumer.”

The grand opening drew community members and their dogs throughout the morning with vendors offering pet products and promotions.

The grand opening drew community members and their dogs throughout the morning with vendors offering pet products and promotions.

Rancho Cordova Mayor Garrett Gatewood welcomed the business and highlighted Dempsey’s background in the industry during the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“Pet Junction is a culmination of Jim’s lifelong passion with animals, beginning with his parents’ pet store, where he developed a love for animals and customer service,” Gatewood said.

Gatewood said the business’s focus on pet supplies, grooming and customer service would make it an addition to the Rancho Cordova business community.

Mika Klinsmann, representing state Sen. Roger Niello’s office, presented the owners with a certificate of recognition.

Mika Klinsmann, representing state Sen. Roger Niello’s office, presented the owners with a certificate of recognition.

“We’re so happy to have you here,” Klinsmann said. “As a pet owner myself, thank you for being here, and if you need anything at the state level, we’re happy to assist you.”

Pam Garcia, business development manager for the City of Rancho Cordova, also welcomed the Dempseys.

“We are very excited to have you here in Rancho Cordova,” Garcia said. “As you can tell, we brought you a lot of love today.”

For Dempsey, the new store brings together the different parts of a career spent working with pet products, retailers and customers.

Now, instead of traveling from store to store, he is building one of his own.

“The dogs and cats are more like family members,” Dempsey said, “and that’s what this is set up for.”

Beyond grooming, Jim Dempsey said he wants employees to be able to help customers understand pet food ingredients, supplements and differences among products.