New Owners Take Over Pet Supply Business In Stafford [VIDEO]

STAFFORD, CT — After 44 years in business as Dave's Soda and Pet City, owner Dave Ratner has sold five of his six locations, including its longtime site in the Big Y Plaza on Route 190 in Stafford.

Ratner, 67, posted a video on the company's Facebook page explaining his reasons for selling his stores in Northampton, Hadley, Ludlow and Ware, Mass., as well as the Stafford store. The video can be viewed below.

He actually sold the stores, now named Smithland Supply, in March, but said he "didn't want to alarm" his faithful customers. He wrote, "Good news is the new company is NOT a national chain. They have seven Agway stores in Connecticut, now they have my five stores, and they want to open more stores throughout New England. They will be very good for our communities, our employees and of course, our pets."

In the video, he explains, "After 44 years, it was time for me to downsize. The beauty of the sale is they took every single one of my retail employees."