Henrico Small Business Spotlight: Salty Paws RVA

Salty Paws RVA isn't just a franchise – it's a haven where dogs and their owners come together to create unforgettable memories. With a mission to spread love, laughter, and the occasional lick of doggy ice cream, Salty Paws RVA has quickly become a fixture in the hearts of pet lovers throughout Henrico County.

Operator Juliette Seymour, a former special education teacher, was searching for a new path outside the classroom when she stumbled upon the Salty Paws franchise that soon would become her passion.

“I wanted to get out of teaching and do something different, and I wanted to have my own business,” she said.

Location was key in accomplishing this goal; establishing Salty Paws RVA in the dog-friendly community of West Broad Village in the Short Pump area has been a key factor in the business's success, she said.

“There are dogs that have come into the store," she said. "Because of our location, we have a lot of people who live here, that walk their dogs past all the time, and the dogs get to the door, and even if they've never been in before, they will often stop and plant themselves on the ground and try to drag their owners into the store. There are plenty of dogs that come in every day just to come in and say hi to me and get a drink of water. I feel like it's almost a little social gathering spot, not just for dogs, but for them, their owners."

For Seymour, Salty Paws is more than just a business — it's a full-on experience. If you’re familiar with the TV show Cheers, then that energy is what Seymour works to create, but specifically for dogs.

Salty Paws has a sister company, Frosty Paws, that creates ice cream for dogs, adding to the experience of a pet-centered business that owners and pets love.

“It's not just a store,” Seymour explained. “You can go into any other pet shop, and you can buy Frosty Paws, and you can buy the bully sticks and all of that. But when you walk into Salty Paws, there are tables with chairs that have doggie beds so that the dogs can sit at the table if they want to eat their ice cream. It's more than just coming and buying something to take home for your pup. It is truly an experience when you bring your dog in.”

Despite her passion and dedication, Seymour faces the challenge of raising awareness about Salty Paws RVA.

"The biggest obstacle has been getting people to know that we're here," she said. "Two to three weeks after we opened, the Richmond Times-Dispatch did an article, and it was on the front cover of the Metro Business section. And that day, we were swamped with people who had seen it."

But many other customers are still learning about the shop.

“I'm still amazed that every day, I get people who walk in and go, 'I didn't even know this was here,'” Seymour said.

One of the most heartwarming aspects of Salty Paws to Seymour and some of her customers is how it honors the memories of pets who have passed. Seymour displays their photos in the store and even has named menu items after some.

"We had one dog come in who was sick and they couldn't decide what kind of ice cream to get her," Seymour recalled. "So I suggested we do an ice cream flight, and I put out four bowls with four little half scoops in each bowl. From that, we decided to make that an a permanent option on the menu. And so we named that after her and we call it an ice cream journey instead of an ice cream flight."

Dedicating a place on the menu to a beloved dog and the impact that it has on the dogs who followed is one of the aspects of the business that bring Seymour joy.

“As a special ed teacher, you have a job that tries to make a difference in people's lives, and I like how I still get to do that on a different level and in a different way, but no less important in my mind," she said.