Riverside Pet Supply in Astoria has a new owner

Published 4:00 pm Friday, February 29, 2008

Linda Riness was on vacation in Seaside when she took a drive to Astoria just for fun, and stopped by a business she had seen for sale in the newspaper. Before she knew it, she’d made the decision to become an entrepreneur.

Riness is now the proud owner of Riverside Pet Supply downtown. She opened the store as the new owner on Dec 1. The next day the coast’s worst storm in decades hit the region, and the store was closed for a week.

“I lost half a fish order, and lost a window,” Riness said, “in addition to a week of income. But compared to many other people I did OK.”

She’s made some positive changes to the store that she hopes will appeal to local pet owners.

“Over the last year the store really went downhill, because the folks were trying to sell it,” she said. “It was empty.”

These days the store is full of pets, pet food and merchandise.

“The biggest change that I’m making is that I have a list for customers to suggest inventory,” she said. “I’m going to carry what local folks need and want. Then we will become more of a community store instead of just a pet store.”

Riness said already families are stopping by with their kids to stroll past the displays of tropical fish, birds, reptiles and rabbits.

“It’s like a little zoo,” she said.

Riness is also working with the Clatsop County Humane Society to facilitate adoptions, and will have “adoption days” at the store, featuring animals from the shelter.

Riverside Pet Supply is located at 240 14th Street in Astoria. The store is open Monday through Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, call the store at (503) 338-6721.