The Coolest Pet Store in America is In WHAT Missouri City?!

Admittedly, I have never been an expert on what is considered "cool". I wasn't a social outcast or anything, but I was never one of the "cool kids". Unless the cool kids spent a lot of time in the high school orchestra. You get it.

But now, hearing about what is cool and what isn't kind of makes me roll my eyes, because it's so subjective, you know? Not always, though! Let me unpack that.

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Lizzi & Rocco’s Natural Pet Market in Columbia has been named one of the Coolest Pet Stores in America! Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Behk. Who decided this? Why is this a big deal? What makes a pet store cool anyway? Why does my hip hurt? Will you buy me some lunch today?"

Hold your horses, I'll tell ya. First, it was decided by Pets Plus magazine, which is a pet food and pet product industry magazine. So it's the people who make and sell any type of food and products for your pets. I bet your Vet keeps one in their break room. And probably the guy who runs your Doggie Daycare reads it, or the lady who does your cat's grooming reads it.  It's a big deal, because these people all over the industry voted on the presentations, and they had some harsh competition. I don't know why your hip hurts, you should probably talk to a doctor about that. NO, I will not buy you lunch. I'm poor.

ANYWAY.

With our annual America’s Coolest contest, we celebrate some of the best independent pet businesses in the country. We always say, there are many different ways to be “cool,” and this year’s eight winners once again prove that point.

Basically, the entrants have to be independent pet stores, they have to submit a detailed history of their business, and submit a ton of photos, not to mention all the questions they have to answer. The competition takes marketing, physical design, the employees, digital presence, community involvement, customer experiences, EVERYTHING into account.

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And the winners get a weekend getaway to Las Vegas (well, it's also to attend, like, educational stuff that weekend, so it's not all gambling and hookers)!  Since this is a national contest, it's really impressive that a local store did so well!

Congratulations to Lizzie and Rocco's Natural Pet Market in Columbia!

Winningly yours,
Behka