Updated 8/2/2021 5:13 PM
Greg Gordon put his heart and soul into Dog Patch Pet and Feed, selling supplies and providing rescue animals with a safe space until they find a forever home.
That makes the looming closure of his Naperville shop all the more painful.
Promoting and facilitating pet adoption has been the driving force behind Gordon's business model, exemplified by a mural painted two years ago on the side of the building at 1108 E. Ogden Ave. And it's the reason Dog Patch has been able to stay alive into its 49th year, he says.
But money has been tight, and shopping habits have shifted since Gordon took ownership in 2010 -- struggles that were only exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, he said. After evaluating the shop's finances, Gordon said, he realized he had no choice but to shut down.