Wylie Wagg to the Rescue for a.k.a. spot Loyalists

Last month came the sad news for local pet owners: a.k.a. spot (2509 North Franklin Road) was closing. The off-the-beaten-path Clarendon pet store had a loyal following that immediately began mourning the loss of a true Arlington original.

The circumstances were even more somber. Lucy McCausland, the owner of a.k.a. spot, was moving to Florida to be closer to her family following the passing of her mother. After some soul-searching, she had decided that traveling back and forth between Florida and Arlington would not be feasible.

But last night McCausland made the bittersweet announcement. While a.k.a. spot was closing, its legacy of promoting pet wellness would be preserved.

Thanks to the intervention of one of a.k.a. spot’s vendors, another local pet retailer, Wylie Wagg, will take the store over, possibly as soon as mid-May.

In an email, Wylie Wagg co-owner Laura Clark said she and her husband, Larry, are excited that Clarendon will now be the location for their fourth store.

We feel very, very fortunate to be able to continue offering the kind of great service and products that Spot has offered for years. We were drawn to the opportunity because we so deeply respect what Spot has done for the community. Following Spot’s success and earning the trust and loyalty of their customers will be a very tall order and we’re committed to making sure that we honor the high standards they have set.

Additionally, we are dedicated to supporting animal rescue and will continue Spot’s tradition of working with adoption groups.

On a personal note, I used to live in Clarendon and absolutely loved being part of the neighborhood. When I had to leave because of a job relocation, it was very sad for me. I’m so happy that we’re opening Wylie Wagg in one of my very favorite places! This is so exciting for us!