Have we passed peak "pet parent" in Montgomery County? The demise of Bark Social at 935 Prose Street at Pike & Rose in North Bethesda may require us to ponder this question for the first time. Bark Social has filed for bankruptcy after an expected round of new financing fell through, the company announced as it - in its own words - "abruptly" closed all of its locations Thursday.
A cross between a dog park and a bar, with a border-crossing-checkpoint design aesthetic, Bark Social appeared as if it could do no wrong when it opened in 2021. Pandemic-weary Americans were eager to embrace any new outdoor venues, and dog owners in the many apartment buildings around Bark Social had limited exercise options for their pets to take advantage of. The steady decline of alcoholic beverage sales was also briefly reversed, as lockdowns, pandemic restrictions, and a botched rollout of vaccines led some to turn to adult beverages to pass the empty hours.
Investors apparently have since turned (Karelian) Bearish on the concept. Have cats overtaken the dogs? Has inflation made expensive dog ownership too much of a luxury expense at this point? This is the time for all "plant parents" to seize the zeitgeist!
13 comments:
According the AVMA still a lot of dog owners. Some folks are wary of dog parks, especially if they have teeny doglet.
Yes, the ship has sailed on that idea. That site is way to valuable anyway. I think P&R has way too many businesses already but that parcel will soon be restaurant and retail.
the tone of this blog is very odd sometimes, wah wah virginia does well with business.. ambitous MoCo business fails (which does not seem a lack of customers but moreover a failed funding plan) Lol Cats..
Just what the hell are you trying to say in that gibberish?
What? Way too many businesses is ridiculous to say. This is the normal street level retail you find in other urban areas such as downtown Bethesda or Silver Spring. The BS site is just a holding pad for future development and never was intended to be permanent. Get out of your mental cage and think for once.
"and a botched rollout of vaccines", correct. The Orange felon decided to go Walmart on his constituents and have them bleach away the virus. We all know how well that worked, for those who survived. And just because your cats aren't privy to a park, don't get your felines, er feeling hurt.
A lot of hostile comments from you this AM. November 5th is still gnawing at you huh?
Bark Social's business plan (like many start-ups...especially in tech) was based on an availability to capital to keep growing. They grew very quickly and were never profitable, but thought their growth would keep investors coming. I bet if it was all the founders' money they wouldn't have even expanded to two locations at this time...not to mention 5 locations.
This blog is weird. In one breath any business closing is due to horrible MoCo policies...but then there will be 5 posts about new businesses opening in MoCo.
10:07: Where in America, or the world for that matter, do businesses not open? Stores and restaurants open all the time. But many of them end up closing in moribund Montgomery County, where high taxes and costs can destroy any business that cannot establish a sufficient profit margin.
As you yourself noted, Bark Social also had restaurants in Alexandria, Columbia, Baltimore and Philadelphia, all of which also closed. So that contradicts your claim here.
1:18: I never claimed anything. Bark Social went bankrupt nationwide. I was responding to your claim that the phenomenon of businesses opening somehow means our economy is not moribund, even though The Washington Post, Wes Moore, David Blair, and other trusted left-wing sources strongly agree with my longtime analysis that it is indeed moribund.
1:40 PM - Whoever you are, you're learning fast how to fib like a convicted felon. OWN IT!
10:07 AM - That's called talking out of both sides of your neck.
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