The River Road Co-op Gas Bar in Portage la Prairie has added a unique feature since this past July. Brett Forzley, Gas Bar Manager, explains that they purchased the section of land north of their location and expanded their parking lot and drive lane for the car wash. The far northeast corner is now designed as a picnic and leisure area.
"In that same area, we now have a pet-friendly space—not necessarily a dog run, but a place where people travelling with pets can stop," says Forzley. "We often see travellers get out of their vehicles with their dogs and are unsure where to go. They end up in the back field east of the gas bar. This area provides them with a picnic table and pet waste bags, making it a welcoming stop."
Forzley also highlights their new confectionery offerings, which encourage foot traffic and attract travellers with soft ice cream. "People can grab a cone, stretch their legs, sit at the picnic table, and enjoy the day. They can let their dog out, too. Of course, it's the owner's responsibility to take care of their pets, but now there's a place to sit, park, and relax."
The gas bar held a somewhat informal opening for this new feature when they reached full capacity on July 12.
"We had grand opening festivities from August 8 to 14," Forzley recalls. "We introduced 'Puppy Hours.' We see lots of dogs come through the pumps already, so we thought, 'Why not make treat bags for the dogs?' Although we didn't see a significant increase in furry passengers, we decided to keep the treats on hand and hand them out. It was a great way to connect with people and their pets."
The response was overwhelmingly positive, according to Forzley. "Most people are pretty keen on that kind of thing. Everyone loves to see dogs, whether they're animal people or not."
"In my opinion, you can’t help but soften up when you see someone ride in with a dog. Now, customers say they visit Co-op because we like their dogs, and the dogs like us. With treats, it's nothing but positivity."
Though the treats ran out just over a week ago, Forzley says they are open to offering them again in the future, possibly as part of a fall promotion.
The River Road Gas Bar, now 24 years old, underwent a complete remodel, renovation, and expansion. Work began last fall and was completed this July.
On the topic of pets, Forzley clarifies the policy. "We're very pet-friendly outside, but not inside. It’s a common question. We don’t allow pets in the building, aside from service animals. As much as I’d love to look the other way, we can’t allow pets inside. But we’re definitely happy to see them outside at our new facility or even at the pumps."