A Northwest Jacksonville pet storethat has served local pet owners for more than two years is now on the list of locations set to close as Tractor Supply Co. restructures its Petsense business.
Petsense by Tractor Supplyopened its Jacksonville storefront on February 4, 2023, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The retailer specializes in pet food, toys, and supplies for dogs, cats, fish, reptiles, birds, and other small animals. Beyond retail, the store also offers a range of services, including professional grooming, dog training, pet insurance, veterinary clinics, adoption events, and WAG! pet care services.
The planned closure comes after Tractor Supply Co. announced in its July 23 earnings reportthat it plans to shut down approximately75
underperforming Petsense stores across the country as part of a broader effort to improve the brand's performance. Days after the report was released, a company spokesperson confirmed to USA TODAY that the final number is 74 stores, including eight locations in Florida. Unfortunately, for Jacksonville pet owners, the Northwest Jacksonville location is among those set to close.
Here's what we know.
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What is Petsense?
Petsense, a smaller competitor to pet supply retail chains like Petco and PetSmart with a focus on rural areas, was founded in 2005 and acquired by Tractor Supply in September 2016, according to a news release by the company. At the time of the acquisition, Petsense had 136 stores across 23 states. Tractor Supply re-branded the pet-exclusive chain to Petsense by Tractor Supply in August 2022.
How many Petsense stores are in Florida, and how many are closing?
Petsense currently operates 17 stores across Florida. As part of Tractor Supply Co.'s planned restructuring, eight of those locations — nearly half of the company's Florida footprint — are slated to close, including the Jacksonville store, according to the list of closures provided to USA TODAY.
Why is Petsense closing some of its Florida locations? Here's what we know
"This was a very difficult decision made after a deep look at our business. Our immediate focus is taking care of the team members who are affected by these closures," a Petsense by Tractor Supply spokesperson said in an emailed statement to USA TODAY on July 28.
"We are working hard to transfer them to roles at other Petsense or Tractor Supply stores wherever possible," the spokesperson said, adding that the affected stores will remain open during a "wind-down process" over the next 10 to 12 weeks.
When did Petsense by Tractor Supply first open its Jacksonville location?
The pet supplier first opened its first and only Jacksonville location on February 4, 2023.
Where is the Petsense by Tractor Supply in Jacksonville located?
The Petense by Tractor Supply is located at 6765 Dunn Avenue, Suite #303.
Which Petsense by Tractor Supply locations are closing in Florida?
Tractor Supply provided a full list of the 74 Petsense locations that are closing to USA TODAY. The Florida locations are:
- Auburndale - 372 Havendale Blvd. Suite 372
- Fort Pierce - 1975 S. U.S. Hwy 1
- Jacksonville - 6765 Dunn Avenue, Suite #303
- Kissimmee (Poinciana) - 4330 Pleasant Hill Road
- Lakeland - 5291 US Highway 98 S
- Mount Dora - 18810 US Highway 441
- Nokomis - 1067 N Tamiami Trail
- Ocala - 3438 E Silver Springs Blvd.
135 Petsense locations will remain after announced closures
As of June 29, there were 209 Petsense by Tractor Supply stores across 23 states, according to the earnings report. After the 74 store closures, there will be 135 locations remaining.
Petsense offers pet toys and food, grooming supplies, and a small assortment of rodents, reptiles, and fish. They also offer on-site pet adoptions and grooming.
The company told USA TODAY its customers will still have access to Tractor Supply stores, Petsense.com, Tractorsupply.com, Allivet pharmacy and VIP Petcare services where available.
Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X @GabeHauari or email him at Gdhauari@usatoday.com.
Doris Alvarez is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for The Florida Times-Union. You can get all of Jacksonville’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday by signing up for the free Daily Briefing and News Alerts newsletters at jacksonville.com/newsletters
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Pet retailer to close 8 Florida stores, including one in Jacksonville
