Lee says, “Matthew and I really wanted to create a space where pets and pet nutrition intersect with our love for urban art and culture, fashion and sustainability.” 

They opted for “a darker more masculine palette, industrial finishes and fixtures, and eclectic visual props. We love how pet products, typically colorful, look against our black interior,” Lee says. Adding a welcoming warmth to the aesthetic is a leaf-green checkout counter.

Lee and Guevara opened The Public Pet with Lola and Phiefer, whose portrait sits on a shelf above the leash and collar fixture, made from reclaimed pipe fittings and wood. Maluca has since taken over store pet duties.

Around 70% of the store’s revenue comes from food sales, with the majority being raw. Frozen products moved to a back room during the pandemic to reduce what customers touched, and the owners as well as staff prefer how interactions now happen. “Buying food has become a much more personal experience for our customers because of this,” Lee says.

A bevy of recycled baskets hold products throughout the store.

“Our store is an extension of our home,” Guevara says. “They actually look alike because we rotate decorations and plants between them.”

Lee and Guevara look to local artists and fashion designers to create partnerships. “It’s sometimes easier to source within the creative community, to just plant the idea of making pet products in their head, than it is to find people who already do pet products that fit our aesthetic.” Roberta Oaks makes her Aloha clothing, and she now turns the fabric scraps into dog bandanas. 

Seamstress Joy Labrador now makes whimsical toys inspired by local culture.

Staff also sell the products they make at the store, such as pins, stickers and fabric masks.

The bestselling treats at The Public Pet are those the owners source and package themselves. 

“It’s a really exciting and expansive part of our business,” Lee says. “It’s been really cool to support ranchers and farmers in Hawaii, to cut out shipping from another state or country.” 

Some of the single-ingredient treats have fun names like Chovy Bits, Chewy Tendoncies and Party Fowl.

They align with the store’s focus on raw feeding. 

A colorful mural by Matthew Tapia captures the spirit of the store and acts as a design element for the Kaimuki neighborhood. 

It features The Public Pet’s original store dogs. To read more about The Public Pet, check out the America’s Coolest feature.