A new store celebrated its grand opening in the heart of Old Town last Friday. But this particular 
store has local pets just as excited as their owners.

The Dog Park, at 705 King St., can be described as a unique shopping experience because it carries everything from standard pet essentials to customized pet beds.

The stores owner, Alexandria resident Anna Fitzgerald, is a former EPA employee who now finds herself far removed from the corporate world.  She claims that her inspiration for her move from the hustle and bustle of corporate life to the life of a local pet store owner is her Australian Cattle Dog, Chester. 

After I got Chester, I found myself driving to one store for food, another for treats, another for toys, Fitzgerald said. None provided the quality I was looking for across the board.

The Dog Park promises to be an all encompassing one-stop-shop as it expects to offer as many products as the major pet retailers. But it will also offer the service and appeal that the major retailers cannot match, Fitzgerald said.