Over a decade ago, Maggie Lamparelli felt discouraged by recalls in the pet food industry, so she began baking homemade dog treats and food from her home in Florida. She shared them with her sister-in-law, Cheryl Lamparelli, and several others. Recognizing the interest others had in their recipes, Cheryl and Maggie decided to go into business together.
“My dogs are my children, so I want the best for them at all times,” Maggie says. “It basically came down to me wanting to provide them with the highest quality ingredients and products I could find.”
After Maggie moved to Buffalo in 2015, the sisters-in-law opened a brick-and-mortar store in the Market Arcade on Main Street. Buffalo Barkery now resides at 47 Allen St., where the Lamparellis serve a loyal customer base.
The pair say their most popular items are the homemade, Buffalo-themed dog biscuits, including flavors like Buffalove pumpkin, beef on weck and chicken wing. The store also offers frozen yogurt treats and made-to-order cakes and cupcakes for special pet celebrations (plus options in the freezer on the sales floor for people who forgot to order ahead of time).
Treats, toys and accessories for dogs and cats, as well as Buffalo-themed pet supplies from local vendors, round out the Barkery’s offerings.
“Everything we carry in our story is high quality and made in the U.S. We only carry what we would give our dogs,” Maggie says. “We make the dog treats right here, with human-grade ingredients, no preservatives and of course a fun, Buffalo theme.”
As another unique differentiator, shoppers at Buffalo Barkery can choose two different shopping experiences—they can visit during traditional hours with their pet, or they can request a private shopping experience for nervous or reactive dogs.
“The goal is to welcome the customer and their dog and to have them leave here feeling like family,” Maggie explains. “We just want everyone to be able to participate in what we have to offer.”
The Lamparellis open the store weekly to City of Buffalo Animal Shelter (CBAS) volunteers to bring dogs into the store for a private experience, which allows them to gauge how the animals behave outside of the shelter.
Buffalo Barkery also runs several fundraisers for organizations like CBAS, Fix A Bull WNY and Queen City Pitties. They regularly host a pet photographer and donate the proceeds, as well as hosting raffles for special causes and selling special “Buffalove” branded items, the proceeds of which are donated to CBAS.
“Giving back to the community is a huge part of what we do,” Maggie says. One of our main goals is to make Buffalo a better place and make a positive impact where we can.”
Customers have responded to the unique pet shop experience Buffalo Barkery offers and tend to visit on a regular basis.
“We have very, very loyal customers,” Cheryl says. “We’ve become friends with so many of our customers and celebrate their joys with their dog, but also the challenges and sadness of losing a pet. It has been a great experience, and I think our customers know how important they are to us, and that makes a difference.”
