Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming opens in downtown Winter Park

Dog lovers rejoice: Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming has come to downtown Winter Park.

The chain of dog stores specializing in canine cuisine and items has arrived at the Park Avenue area. The new store at 180 E. Morse Blvd. celebrated its soft opening on July 31 before hosting its grand opening on Sept. 23.

Woof Gang is known for its line of healthy dog treats, shaped like foxes, pretzels, birthday cakes and many other fun designs. The doggie snacks always include a complete list of ingredients for reference, manager Sarah O’Connor said.

“We want really quality products that are affordable,” she said. “(The problem with) PetSmart and Petco is they don’t care what goes into their products at the end of the day. They just want to sell them. We’re not going to push anything on somebody that we don’t truly believe in. We’re all dog owners, so we look into the products that we’re selling.”

Woof Gang also offers grooming and carries a wide variety of toys and accessories. Each Woof Gang location is separately owned, so they boast a unique twist regarding inventory and products. The downtown Winter Park location has a relationship with a portrait artist who accepts commissions on pet illustrations. The new Winter Park location also has grooming available seven days a week.

The Winter Park store should not be confused with the store along Orange Avenue, which is still open and under a different owner. Park Avenue — known for its dog-friendly atmosphere — is a perfect match for Woof Gang, O’Connor said.

“Orlando, more so than other cities, does a really good job of being pet-friendly,” O’Connor said. “Park Avenue is even more so than Lake Eola, because so many of these people have dogs of their own.”