Fur-Baby Boutique comes to Dover as part of downtown initiative

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DOVER - Milford’s Fur-Baby Boutique will be expanding to Dover during the holiday season as part of the Downtown Dover Partnership’s "Last Minute Shoppers" Pop-Up Shop program.

On Dec. 3, the DPP announced that it was accepting applications for a business to be able to operate at 136 W. Lookerman St. in Dover.

The program received 15 applications and Fur Baby Boutique owner Sherry Shupe was selected as the winning merchant.

The response to the program set the DPP into action to try and find a way more merchants could be apart of downtown Dover this holiday season.

Fur-Baby has been operating in Milford for 10 years, and more recently opened Fur-Baby Pet Resort that provides full-service pet services such as daycare, boarding and spa grooming as well as a retail component with natural pet grocery and human gifts. 

Ms. Shupe will bring the retail component to the pop-up shop in Dover, including natural handmade treats, natural American-made toys, chews and fun, unique human gifts, and apparel for pets and pet lovers, too.      

“I am so excited to partner with the DDP and to be able to occupy this beautiful, historic building in downtown Dover. And we want to hear what kinds of pet products the local audience would like to see.”  Ms. Shupe said that many Dover customers that frequent the Milford location have asked her to consider opening in the Dover area, so she believes she’ll be seeing some familiar faces as soon they open up later this week.   

On Monday, Ms. Shupe signed a lease through December 31, and was also required to submit a fee of $200, a refundable security deposit and liability insurance, and has committed to being open at least three days a week for the short-term retail opportunity on Loockerman Street.  While a successful pop-up experience will allow her to take advantage of shoppers buying in the brick-and-mortar shop, Ms. Shupe’s active, social media interaction will bolster a potential long-term business in Dover. This holiday opportunity will allow her to test the market and the Dover location. 

Ms. Shupe will occupy the 400 square feet space through Dec. 31. 

Not wanting to lose the opportunity afforded by the additional applications, Tina Bradbury, DDP operations manager and overseer of the Capital City Farmers Market is exploring offering an outdoor Last Minute Shoppers Pop Up Marketplace for those looking to purchase gifts in the week leading up to Christmas.

“The weather is forecasted to be unseasonably warm, and this would be a terrific way to provide an opportunity to the many applicants who have fine products.  We encourage the community to be sure to support all of our local merchants, including the new pop-up Fur Baby Boutique at 136 Loockerman, just down the street from Loockerman Way Plaza.” 

The DDP welcomes vendors, including food trucks who would be interested in participating in the pop-up marketplace to be in touch with Tina immediately.

For details about the Last-Minute Shoppers initiative, including dates of opening, times, and hours, visit:  and on Downtown Dover on Facebook for lives, pictures, and updates.

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