Care-A-Lot Pet Supply Expands to Fifth Store in Virginia Beach

Family-owned pet supply store opens new location, continuing growth since 1988 origins.

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

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Care-A-Lot Pet Supply, a family-owned pet supply store that started as a catalog business in 1988, has opened its fifth brick-and-mortar location in Virginia Beach. The new Rosemont store joins four other Care-A-Lot locations across Hampton Roads, offering a wide range of pet supplies, grooming services, and other pet-related amenities.

Why it matters

The expansion of Care-A-Lot Pet Supply reflects the growing demand for specialized pet products and services in the Virginia Beach area, as well as the resilience of family-owned businesses that can adapt to changing consumer preferences over decades.

The details

Care-A-Lot Pet Supply was founded in 1988 by Alfred and Mary Clarke, who started the business as a catalog selling training and grooming items out of a small showroom in Virginia Beach. Over the years, the business has grown to include five physical retail locations, offering a one-stop shop for pet owners with grooming salons, doggie daycare, pet boarding, and self-wash stations. The latest store opening in the Rosemont area of Virginia Beach is part of the company's continued expansion, led by the founders' son Bobby Clarke and his wife Denise.

  • Care-A-Lot Pet Supply was founded in 1988.
  • The company opened its fifth store location in Virginia Beach in February 2026.

The players

Alfred and Mary Clarke

Founders of Care-A-Lot Pet Supply, who started the business as a pet supply catalog in 1988.

Bobby Clarke

Son of the founders, who has expanded the business to five brick-and-mortar stores across Hampton Roads.

Denise Clarke

Wife of Bobby Clarke and vice president of Care-A-Lot Pet Supply, overseeing the company's growth and operations.

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What they’re saying

“Our business grew strictly by word of mouth. Other than giving the catalog away at dog shows, we did not advertise for many years.”

— Denise Clarke, Vice President, Care-A-Lot Pet Supply (pilotonline.com)

“We're in business today because it's all about our pets and the joy they bring to our lives. We're incredibly proud to be part of the community we were raised in.”

— Bobby Clarke (pilotonline.com)

What’s next

The company plans to continue expanding its pet supply and service offerings across Hampton Roads, with a focus on providing a personalized, community-oriented shopping experience for local pet owners.

The takeaway

Care-A-Lot Pet Supply's growth from a small catalog business to a regional chain of pet supply stores demonstrates the enduring demand for specialized, family-owned businesses that cater to the needs of pet owners. The company's commitment to the local community and focus on providing a wide range of pet-related services have been key to its success over the past three decades.