For Park Slope Pet Store, Community Fundraiser Is Last Resort

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — Even as the coronavirus pandemic plummeted business at his new pet store, Peter Papadatos said he couldn't help but think about those who might have it worse.

The Bensonhurst native gave supplies to struggling pet rescues, donated to his church to keep neighbors fed and did the best he could to help the few loyal customers who still stopped by.

"I shouldn't say this, but I'm going to — when the pandemic started, my customers who lost their job would come in here and I would say, just take [what you need]," Papadatos said. "They couldn't afford it."

And even as sales at Park Slope Pet Supplies, which he bought in November, dwindled to less than half of what they were pre-pandemic, Papadatos stayed open three days a week so the two young students who worked for him wouldn't be without a paycheck.

"I haven’t put a dollar in my pocket since the pandemic because my priority is for these girls," he said. "My philosophy is, I put people first, because God forbid if they don’t have what they need, I can’t sleep at night."

Now, the new business owner is hoping that generosity will come back his way.

After months of applying for small business assistance and taking out loans to pay his rent, Papadatos has started a GoFundMe to help keep Park Slope Pet Supplies afloat.

The fundraiser comes as a last resort as the store faces a 14-day notice from its landlord, demanding he pay rent or face eviction, Papadatos said.

And though he knows his landlord can't make good on the threat yet thanks to a statewide eviction moratorium, Papadatos fears it's only a matter of time before he is kicked out. The eviction moratorium ends Oct. 20.

"I don't want to lose my business — this is my livelihood," Papadatos said.

Park Slope Pet Supplies, like many small businesses, didn't qualify for a loan under the Paycheck Protection Program or the Economic Injury Disaster program given that it hasn't been open for a year and doesn't have full-time employees on its payroll, Papadatos said.

He's also set up a UPS access point at his store in the hopes that it will help spur more business and has sought help from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce, but said he's worried it will come too late.

"They said it could take up to five weeks, I don’t have five weeks," Papadatos said.

With the GoFundMe, he hopes to raise $15,000, the minimum amount he needs to pay his rent and what he owes to his distributors. A loan he took out earlier in the year only gave him enough to cover rent for March, April and May, he said.

"I don't want a handout, but this is the only thing right now," Papadatos said.

Park Slope Pet Supplies is found at 697 Fifth Ave. between 21st and 22nd streets. Read more about the business on the GoFundMe here.