After nine years of business in Ames, Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe, located on Burnett Avenue nestled between Main and Fifth streets downtown, will either be sold or closed by the end of this year.
Owner Dale Dyvig, who has worked in the pet store industry since 1978, made the decision to officially retire this year, and as of October, made the announcement that the store would sell all of its merchandise in preparation to close permanently. While his hope is to sell the business to someone interested in carrying it on, if no serious buyers step forward within the next five to six weeks, this year will likely be its last.
“I’ve been old enough to retire for several years, I just decided it was time to be done,” Dyvig said of his decision to close the store. “All the years I’ve been in Ames it’s been a great community, and I’ve met lots of people. I feel bad for our good customers that come into the store and depend on us. That’s why I’m hoping we can sell the store.”
Since 2008, Dyvig and his wife Patricia have run the local resource for pets and pet supplies in Ames, with the help of three part-time employees. The business first started in Dyvig’s hometown Webster City, where the very first Dyvig’s Pet Shoppe was founded in the basement of the couple’s home. Over the years, the business grew from the first location, and stores were also opened and operated in Clear Lake and finally, Ames.
“I’ve always enjoyed different pets and animals, and I love retail,” Dyvig said. “The two just kind of came together. It all started [when] my kids brought some guppies home from school, and we ended up buying a fish tank. Next thing we knew we bought another fight tank, and we decided there was a need for a pet shop in Webster City, so that’s when we opened up. It started in the basement in our home and it grew from there.”
Although there have been inquiries into buying the store, so far, it has yet to be sold. If a buyer commits, Dyvig said he would like to ultimately stay on with the store to help train the new owner on how to run it. In the interim, everything inside the store is being sold at a discount, from pet supplies to shelving.
“There is a need for a small pet shop in Ames,” Dyvig said. “Every day we have all of our customers coming in to say how sad it is to see us leaving, and asking where they’re going to get their supplies and animals. I really want to say a big thank you to all the loyal customers I’ve had over the years.”
