After retiring from a successful career in public affairs, Marsha Lindsey decided she wanted to open a dog supply store.
The 54-year-old had plenty of determination, but no experience running a business. She borrowed against her car and home, withdrew money from her retirement account, and launched The Lucky Dog Barkery in The Plaza at Preston Center, the only retail center that agreed to give her idea a chance.
“My financial advisor at the time goes, ‘I don’t know about this.’ But he knew I was passionate about it, and I can be pretty hard-headed,” Lindsey said. “I’m like why not? It’s up to me. I’m just going to make it work.”
Twenty years later, thousands of pets and their people are grateful that Lindsey and The Plaza at Preston Center took a risk. The Lucky Dog Barkery has become a dream destination for pet owners and the dogs they love.
The store’s approximately 2,600 square-foot space next to Muchacho is packed from floor to ceiling with dog toys, stylish clothing, nutrition-packed food, beds, and gear. There’s even a birthday section with everything a pup might need to celebrate their special day, along with some treats for their favorite kitties.
The words “My dog eats better than I do” are written on many of the shop’s bags, a phrase that Lindsey often hears from owners who purchase a selection of her high-quality products.
“I take care of my employees. That’s really important to me … They’re family,” she said. “We take good care of our customers. We’ve got a really good, loyal base of customers, and we’ve become a part of their lives.”
Her customers have become a part of Lindsey’s life, as well. Along with a picture of her grandson on the Barkery’s second floor, Lindsey keeps a 20-year-old photo of one loyal customer, an 18-pound Yorkie named Thor who used to carry a large bully stick from the Barkery to his home on the other side of Northwest Highway.
Lindsey can rattle off stories about the four-legged Barkery customer who got away from a pet sitter and ended up at her back door, or the two-legged one who went hunting for presents for three dogs and a baby on Christmas Eve.
The Barkery’s design is also personal to Lindsey. As a child, she loved visiting her uncle’s small-town store, which served as a post office, general store, gas station, and cotton gin. She’s recreated its atmosphere with a variety of antique and industrial pieces.
The Lucky Dog Barkery’s treats are stored in nail bins, and its collars are organized by size in legal file drawers.
Lindsey built the racks that hold dog harnesses and leashes out of pipes she found in the plumbing aisle at Home Depot. The Barkery’s doors, which Lindsey refinished in her driveway, have traveled to three different locations in The Plaza at Preston Center. Its chairs pay homage to her father, who would only take her shopping in stores where he had a place to sit.
Lindsey has considered opening additional stores, but she’s decided against it. What she’s built in the Plaza is unique, she said; she doesn’t want to dilute it. She also doesn’t sell anything online. The Barkery’s employees are too busy doing their jobs — taking care of the customers who come through their door.
Over the years, the Lucky Dog Barkery has given back to the community that has supported it. The store has donated to nonprofits, provided merchandise to pets in need, and participated in Partner’s Card. Recently, it funded a University Park Public Library program that helps children sharpen their reading skills by sharing stories with dogs.
“I tend to live in the moment. I don’t worry a lot about what’s down the road. I try to do the best I can every day,” Lindsey said. “But I do have to go, ‘20 years?’ I’m just kind of dumbstruck, to be honest.”
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