PetSmart recently opened its 1,700th store, an 18,000-square-foot building at 2065 N. Alma School Road in Chandler. For store leader Norbert Martel, the moment is personal. Martel, who has been with PetSmart for just under four years, described the assignment as an honor.
The Chandler Desert Palms location is a full-service hub for pet parents, with grooming, training, adoptions and an expansive assortment of essentials for cats, dogs, fish, birds, reptiles and small animals. But Martel said thoughtful details make this store different.
“Everything is new,” said Martel, who has worked for PetSmart for about four years. “The salon is new. I have a lot of little features that stores that have been around for a little while don’t have.”
One of those details is the grooming salon — built with a double‑door system that keeps pets secure and streamlines the check‑in and pick‑up process.
“Normally, in most salons, you’ll have to walk the dog through your cutting salon and put them in the kennel until you’re ready to work on them,” Martel explained.
This PetSmart also has a newly designed training ring, wrapped in graphics that highlight the program and give the space a sense of energy. Behind the scenes, a larger back room makes stocking and unloading more efficient. The operational improvements make a big difference for associates and customers.
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The Phoenix-born company was founded in 1986 by Jim and Janice Dougherty, as PetFood Warehouse. The name was changed to PetSmart in 1988.
The Chandler store’s grand opening celebration on July 18 drew local pet parents with caricature artists, swag bags, giveaways and complimentary coffee and pup cups. Treats Rewards members earned five times points during the opening week.
For Martel, the milestone carries a deeper significance.
“The company’s been around for 40 years, and they’re really giving the customer the best in what they need,” he said. “Whether it’s a service for their dog—training or any number of products that we sell—it was exciting that Chandler was the 1,700th store. It’s pretty exciting.”
