Two men have decided to expand their animal supply business to cater to Johnstown residents.

Business partners Keith Hay and Nathan Jamison opened Fetch-N-Go Feed & Pet Supply at 103 College Park Plaza in late February in Johnstown. The pair own similar stores in Somerset and Ebensburg.

Jamison said they started talking about expanding last fall.

“We always talked about having a third location. It’s a good opportunity to open another pet-focused business here,” Jamison said.

They hosted a small ceremony March 7, at which Richland Township Supervisor Bob Heffelfinger and Cambria County Commissioner Tom Chernisky helped employees cut a ribbon.

One sales associate, Michelle Maculewicz, said she thinks it’s nice to have another pet store in Johnstown because people love their pets.

Hay said that this location, in particular, is the logical middle point between their stores.

“We wanted to be where we can meet the needs of the people we serve. We’ve been very pleased so far with the customers who’ve been coming in,” Hay said.

Hay said they’re about competitive pricing and personal service.

“We want to continue to grow. We’re not quite full, but we expect customers to help us fill the store with the things they want.

“We’ll fetch it, and you get going. We’re excited to see what all we can do here,” Hay said.

Jamison said he appreciates that customers seem to have a mentality that they want to support small stores rather than big-box stores.

Hay said a challenge they face is that sometimes people are skeptical a small store can last in an area with a big-box store, Petco, across the street in Richland Town Centre.

“What we find is that people are intimidated and don’t ask questions at the big-box stores. We love educating people, and we want them to ask questions,” Hay said.

A Richland Town Centre Petco manager declined to comment about the new business.

Both Jamison and Hay have jobs other than managing their stores. Hay said the only way they can do so is because they have great employees to help at the stores.

“We’re able to do what we do because of them. We tell them that they work for us, but they have to make the store their own,” Hay said.

Jamison’s mother, Deanna Jamison, who was at the ribbon-cutting, also helps out. She said that she is proud of both men.

“They’re super busy, but they have no fear. They have vision and drive, and they see opportunities and go for it,” Deanna said.

Hay said the store’s grand opening is to be March 24, when they’ll have giveaways and prizes, pet nail clippings with a donation to the Humane Society and an opportunity to have your pet’s paw dipped in paint, printed on paper and then have an artist paint a picture out of it.

The store is stocked with supplies for cats, dogs and reptiles. It also has bird, rabbit and guinea pig supplies. They are also to be installing a self-service pet washing station.

“We feel like this market is endless; there’s a lot of potential. That’s what’s exciting to us,” Hay said.