The Grande Prairie Pet Shop, a downtown fixture since 1987, is closing its doors as owner Agnes prepares to move to Edmonton to be with family. A storewide closing sale is now underway at the shop located at 9807 99 Avenue.
The Grande Prairie Downtown Association profiled the pet shop alongside two other long-standing businesses, Infotech and Snapshot Studio, as part of a heritage business series. Infotech recently marked 25 years in business, while Snapshot Studio is celebrating 30 years.
Agnes opened the pet shop in June 1987, choosing the downtown site so she could build exactly what she wanted. At the time, she said the town had a population of about 15,000 and was nice and quiet. Since then, Grande Prairie has grown to over 70,000 residents, according to the 2024 municipal census.
Her advice to future independent business owners reflects the challenges of competing against large corporations. “Open something you can’t find anywhere else,” she said. “There’s so much competition from large corporations that can make it difficult for independents, so open something unique!”
The pet shop carried supplies for dogs, cats, lizards, birds, and fish, making it a go-to destination for pet owners in northwestern Alberta. Its closure means residents will need to find alternative sources for their pet supply needs.
Grande Prairie’s downtown has changed significantly since the 1970s, when shopping malls drew retail businesses away from the city core. The Downtown Association continues to highlight the resilience of independent shops through its heritage initiatives, including the Memory Lane project that documents 100 years of downtown history.
