Springing Into Construction

🚧 March Updates from the Zoomies pack 🌷

Another month in the books… and somehow, it’s already spring? Good Dog!

I’ll tell ya, the first ~18 months of this project were a slow burn, but ever since the start of the year it really feels like we’re cooking with gas. I can’t blink, because if I do, suddenly it’ll be opening day.

Which, by the way, we’re still tracking toward later this summer. Exact date is TBD, but we’re making real and tangible progress every single week.

Demolition Is Done ⚠️

This is the big one: we’ve officially broken ground at our space—

3455 N. Elston Ave. in Avondale.

Zoomies is no longer just an idea and a vacant building. Now it’s a vacant building without walls or floors. 😂 But seriously, we are actively tearing things apart so we can build something much better.

Getting to this point has taken a lot of coordination—architectural plans, permits, contractor negotiations, equipment decisions, finish selections, plus about 47 different types of “schedules” I didn’t know existed until recently.

To date, we’ve overcome hurdles with our HVAC design, sprinklers, emergency exit pathways, accessibility requirements, and structural engineering—all so we can make sure the building meets code AND operates exactly the way we want it to.

Few things have been more rewarding though than seeing real progress at the site. And it continues to amaze me how much more “real” everything feels when we embark on a new stage in this adventure.

A Quick Note on Investors 💰

We’re continuing to round out the investor group as we move through construction.

If you’ve been following along and have any interest in getting involved on that side, feel free to reach out to justin@zoomieschicago.com and we can share more information.

We’re Getting Ready to Hire 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

With the grand opening screaming towards us, we’re also gearing up operationally. This includes starting to build the Zoomies team!!!

We expect to begin posting roles and accepting applications within the next 2–3 weeks. If you’ve already reached out about working at Zoomies, don’t worry—we have you noted and will contact you when it’s time to submit.

We’ll be hiring the following:

• Canine care specialists (combo bark ranger & daycare attendant)
• Bartenders
• Baristas
• Customer experience team
• A highly coveted marketing/events/partnerships role

As for who we’re looking for: People who are quick to adapt, calm when things get busy, naturally positive, and proactive. And obviously, people who really, really love dogs.

Why work at Zoomies? We’re building a culture that’s fun, inclusive, and more than a little scrappy. It’s a work hard, play hard kind of place – no sitting, or staying (JK..…kind of). The pace will be fast, the days will be full, and there’s a lot of variety in what you’ll be doing.

If you like taking ownership, figuring things out, and being part of something that you will actively help shape, you’ll probably enjoy it here.

Last Call for Our Lowest Pricing! ⌛

If you’ve been thinking about grabbing a membership, this is your moment.

Early bird pricing will be increasing at the end of April. It’ll still be discounted after that—just not at our lowest pricing anymore.For what it’s worth, we totally don’t mind if you’d prefer to pay more. We just wanted to give ya’ll a heads up so you don’t come back later pleading for the sweet, sweet discounts of yesterday.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE ZOOMIES PACK

A Few FAQs We’ve Been Getting Recently ⁉️

“Is daycare included in my membership?”

Memberships do not include unlimited access to daycare. Memberships DO grant pups unlimited access to our “all dog” park, small dog park, and private runs. They also come with a few built-in perks including one free nail trim per month (b/c who enjoys that chore?) and access to our social events.

One exception to note: Our Founding Member and Lifetime Member options DO come with service credits that can be used toward daycare, boarding, or grooming:

• Founding Members → 10 credits
• Lifetime Members → 20 credits

Credits never expire, and you can use them however you want:

• 1 credit = 1 daycare day
• 2 credits = 1 day/night of boarding
• 3 credits = 1 full-service groom 

In the future we may design a membership offering that includes park access and discounted pet services, but we’re trying to keep things simple to start and introduce tailored offers when we better understand customer preferences.

“What if I have a small dog?”

We’ve got you—we’ll have a fully separate small dog park designed specifically for smaller pups, so they have a space of their own.

“What if my dog doesn’t do well in a group setting?”

We’ll have two private runs available that can be reserved for a single dog or household.

Access is included with membership. Reservations are 30 minutes, with the option to book back-to-back if you’d like more time. We just ask that members be mindful of others who want to use the space as well.

“Do I get charged right away?”

Yes—you’re purchasing your membership now, but you’re in control of when it actually starts.

You’ll have one full year from opening day to activate your membership, so there’s no pressure to time it perfectly.

For One-Month Pass holders specifically:  When you activate, that’s when your first month begins. After that, you’ll be auto-enrolled in month-to-month billing and you won’t be charged again until your second month kicks in.

So, you’re locking in our best pricing now, but the clock doesn’t start until you’re ready to use it.

“When do I upload vet records?”

We’re setting up our client system now and will reach out as soon as everything is ready.

 

The goal is to have as much of the onboarding done ahead of time as possible, so your first visit to Zoomies feels easy and streamlined.

What we’d like to accomplish digitally, before you arrive:

• Uploading vet records/vaccination history
• Signing a liability waiver
• Completing a short behavioral questionnaire so we can get a sense of your dog before they arrive 

At your first visit, we’ll do a brief in-person behavioral assessment. From there, one of our Bark Rangers will accompany your dog into the park and monitor them closely during their first 10–15 minutes to ensure a smooth introduction.

That’s it for now, but stay tuned because more is coming, and fast!

See you and your pups soon, Devon and the Zoomies Pack 🐾

DO NOT CLICK HERE IF YOU HATE SAVING MONEY.