Jamie Idzi is not your typical small-business owner. After graduating from high school in 2004, Idzi started vacationing in Bethany Beach from her home city of Baltimore, Md. While in Bethany, Idzi worked at the downtown dog boutique Yuppy Puppy. And when she was later presented with a chance to buy the store, she decided it was the right move for her.
Coastal Point • Jesse Pryor
Yuppy Puppy in Bethany Beach caters to dogs and their owners, carrying everything from leashes to treats. The store is located at the corner of Pennsylvania Avenue and Garfield Parkway, behind the Palms store.
“I wasn’t really sure what I was doing with college. I was kind of back and forth with that, and my parents and I talked about it and decided it would be a good opportunity,” she recalled.
Idzi purchased the pooch boutique in January of 2007 and has been trying to make it her own.
“We’ve done a little bit of remodeling each winter. It’s a work in progress,” she said.
Other than Idzi, Yuppy Puppy has three other employees. It is open from Easter to Thanksgiving, with varying hours in the spring and fall: in the summer from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week; and from October through Thanksgiving the hours of operation shift to weekends only.
Idzi says that the store’s treats are “by far” their most popular items, followed by collars and leashes. As to her favorite item, Idzi — who shares two Labradors, Saffy and Boomer, with her parents — said there are too many from which to choose.
The store offers a wide variety of dog accouterments. Yuppy Puppy carries dog toys, beds, bath products, clothing, jewelry and treats. It is also a pooch bakery, with sweet treats for dogs to enjoy. There is also apparel for owners who want to sport hats, shirts or even flip-flops with paw prints. And Yuppy Puppy is not purely exclusive to dogs and their owners. The store also has a small selection of supplies for the feline fanatic.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the store holds two weekly events that are free for dogs and their owners. On Friday nights, from 7 to 9 p.m. is Pooch Pizza; and on Sunday mornings from 10 to 11 a.m. is Pooch Pancakes. The pup parties are all held within the store. All the pizza and pancakes are made by Idzi from veterinarian-approved recipes, and promise to please any pup.
Idzi herself is looking forward to the upcoming year in both her personal life and professional life. In the fall she will be attending classes at Wilmington College. She is also in the process of starting up a Web site for the shop, which will launch in early spring of next year.
For more information about its products or events, visit Yuppy Puppy at 123 Garfield Parkway in Bethany Beach or call (302) 537-0171. Be sure to keep an eye out for their Web site at www.shopyuppypuppy.com.