Owners: Charles Anderson and Robert Hartzell

Manager: Jenny Pawlenty

Number of employees: 6

Store location: 3525 Vicksburg Lane N., Plymouth

Other locations: 13 in metro area

Store opening: Oct. 25, 2007

Hours of operation: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday

Information: 763-559-0146 or www.chuckanddons.com

Service sets apart Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet

Sally Thompson - Sun Newspapers

If you've noticed a steady stream of pets leading their owners to a new Plymouth business, you've probably seen Chuck & Don's Pet Food Outlet in the City Center area.

The first Chuck & Don's outlet opened in 1990 at Eagan Towne Centre. Now, 13 stores operate in and around the metro area. The Plymouth store, the newest, opened in October.

"Our customer service makes us special," said Dana Andresen, director of operations for Chuck & Don's. "We greet customers when they enter the store; we acknowledge every person within 10 feet of a staff member; we advise them on products, and we even carry food out to the car for them."

And helping staff members know the company's products is a priority, she said, because it helps them to better assist and educate customers.

"We're a down-home pet-supply store," Andresen said.

The first Chuck & Don's store grew met a demand for pet food and supplies from customers a a boarding kennel previously owned by Charles Anderson - Chuck - and his wife, Sharon.

In order to devote more time to training and showing dogs, the Andersons sold the kennel to Don and Joan Tauer in 1988.

Heeding the kennel customers' requests, Chuck and Don teamed to sell, at first, a limited number of products.

But demand grew, and they opened their first store in 1990. In 1996, Robert Hartzell became a partner. Tauer retired in 2000.

Since its founding, Chuck & Dons has grown into a place to shop also for cats, fish, birds, small-animals and reptile supplies.

"I really love working here," said Jenny Pawlenty, manager of the Plymouth store. "It's a fun environment. It's fun to meet people and see their pets, and it's nice to have the opportunity to help people meet the needs of their pets."

"Our customer service makes us special," said Dana Andresen, director of operations for Chuck & Don's. "We greet customers when they enter the store; we acknowledge every person within 10 feet of a staff member; we advise them on products, and we even carry food out to the car for them."

And helping staff members know the company's products is a priority, she said, because it helps them to better assist and educate customers.

"We're a down-home pet-supply store," Andresen said.

The first Chuck & Don's store grew met a demand for pet food and supplies from customers a a boarding kennel previously owned by Charles Anderson - Chuck - and his wife, Sharon.

In order to devote more time to training and showing dogs, the Andersons sold the kennel to Don and Joan Tauer in 1988.

Heeding the kennel customers' requests, Chuck and Don teamed to sell, at first, a limited number of products.

But demand grew, and they opened their first store in 1990. In 1996, Robert Hartzell became a partner. Tauer retired in 2000.

Since its founding, Chuck & Dons has grown into a place to shop also for cats, fish, birds, small-animals and reptile supplies.

"I really love working here," said Jenny Pawlenty, manager of the Plymouth store. "It's a fun environment. It's fun to meet people and see their pets, and it's nice to have the opportunity to help people meet the needs of their pets."