My Biz: Mount Vernon Business is barking up the right tree

MOUNT VERNON — Diana Crowley opened Zoe's Pet Deli two years ago, to offer holistic and natural foods and products to Corridor pet owners.

If the numbers are any indication, it would appear Crowley is on to something.

'Recently I wrote a grant for a planned business expansion, and our business is up by 37 percent in the first quarter from last year's first quarter,' she said. 'Second quarter is going to be higher than that.'

Zoe's Pet Deli moved to downtown Mount Vernon last July. This past March, Crowley added a dog washing spa.

'We offer a professional, waist-high tub, so that you don't have to bend over,' she said.

The nonslip walk-up ramp enables larger and elderly dogs to get in and out of the tub with greater ease.

'You can either wash your dog yourself, or for an additional fee, we will do it for you while you sit and watch,' Crowley said.

'We use all natural, essential oils and shampoos, and we don't use chemicals to clean the tub area either,' Crowley added. 'Our goal is for a healthy, safer environment with no chemicals, and people are loving it.'

'It's a great service,' Crowley continued, 'because if you think about how long it takes to get your shower cleaned out at home — say, 45 minutes, and if it takes another 45 minutes to get your dog bathed, and yet another 45 minutes to clean and wipe down the area once you are done, that's not so much fun.'

Crowley said they encourage families to come in and enjoy bathing their dog together.

'They have the fun and we handle the cleanup so they don't have to,' she said.

Crowley said it is a good service for elderly clients as well.

'I have one couple who cannot bathe their German shepherd any longer, so they bring him in and wait while I do his bath,' she said. 'They are so grateful this type of service is available.'

In addition to the American-made, all-natural dog and cat foods she sells, Crowley has added a delivery service for busy clients who can't always get to the store for their pet's food.

'There are only two places in this state to buy the Wisconsin-made Fromm food we sell — our store and another in Iowa City — and I have customers all over the Corridor,' she said.

Crowley runs the retail business by herself, so the deliveries are done before or after store hours.

Future plans within the year include constructing a pet bakery within the shop.

With help from her mother and boyfriend, Crowley bakes aromatic healthy treats in her home kitchen and brings them into the store to sell.

'We bake birthday cakes for dogs,' she said, 'and wheat-free treats.'

The treats can be customized for an animal's specific dietary needs.

Top-level healthy ingredients that go into the baked goods include brown rice flour, soy flour, organic pumpkin, organic peanut butter and cinnamon.

The store recently added extra hours and now is open Sundays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

At a Glance

Owner: Diana Crowley

Company: Zoe's Pet Deli & Dog Wash

Address: 104 Second Ave. N., Mount Vernon

Contact: (319) 535-1030; www.zoespetdeli.com

Know a company in business for more than a year that would make an ideal My Biz? Contact Francie Williamson at francie.williamson@thegazette.com