Be Safe, Mask Pup

Like many small businesses, it’s been a tough few months for Downtown Dog Lounge. The popular multi-service doggy day care temporarily closed in March, but reopened its doors with limited offerings on May 18. But with much of Seattle’s Amazon corporate workforce continuing to work from home, the business still faces an uphill battle.

“Our SLU location has definitely been hurting the most. In Ballard, we’re getting about 50 dogs per day. We are currently getting maybe 3-5 dogs in SLU. More than 90 percent of our clients work for Amazon, so it’s been difficult,” said Elise Vincentini, founder and owner of Downtown Dog Lounge.

Vincentini explained that the last few months has allowed her to find opportunities to be as efficient as possible in her business, and to make some needed updates to the SLU space.

“Closing gave us the opportunity to repair one of the floors in our park and put in a fresh coat of paint along with other upgrades. Dogs provide wear and tear, and with normal 24-hour occupancy, this allowed us to do some things that we much prefer to do when dogs are not present.”

Downtown Dog Lounge is getting about 60 calls per day for grooming, and Vincentini is hoping that she’ll be able to offer it soon once restrictions are lifted. For now, Downtown Dog Lounge is offering discounted services like half-priced guided walks and is continuing its bakery program. Customers can expect outdoor sinks, additional sanitation, mask requirements, and other new protocols to account for client and employee safety, too.

“We miss our pups (and their parents) and will soon be offering grooming, training and boarding. In the meantime, we are here for daycare, cabin fever, retail or treat purchases and birthday cake orders for your pooch, Vincentini said.

Be on the lookout for Mercer, Downtown Dog Lounge’s Great Dane on wheels, as she strolls through the neighborhood, and stop in to get your four-legged friend a treat or bring them by so they can get their “zoomies” out.

Downtown Dog Lounge was a recent recipient of a grant from the SLU Chamber of Commerce. Read more about the program and learn how you can help small businesses in the neighborhood.