After five years at Copper Leaf Crossing on Ann Arbor-Saline Road, Beth and John Lebert have moved their Pet Emporium to Lamp Post Plaza, a couple of doors down from Trader Joe’s. “I’ve always wanted to be there,” Beth says. “I’ve always been inspired by Trader Joe’s.”
The Pet Emporium sets itself apart from the big chains by stocking a huge selection of all-natural and organic pet food. They also carry toys, collars, beds, dishes, shampoos, and other pet care products, with a particular emphasis on those made in Michigan. Shelves are piled high with both meat-based and vegetarian dog food, and refrigerators are stocked with raw dog food–sort of a canine version of Trader Joe’s wildly popular ready-to-cook dinners–in flavors that include venison, chicken, lamb, beef, rabbit, pheasant, bison, and even kangaroo.
The Leberts own another pet supply shop, Pets N Things in Saline, known for its mainstream and offbeat pets for sale. The Pet Emporium doesn’t sell animals, but it does host weekly pet adoption open houses.
Pet Emporium, 2394 E. Stadium (Lamp Post Plaza), 929-6533. Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. thepetemporium.com
