Pet Supply Store Opening Soon at Riverdale Farms Shopping Center

Soon to be opening in the Riverdale Farms Shopping area is the Tunxis River Crossing, a pet supply shop, or as the sign reads, a place to get “provisions for man and beast.”

The store is a family-owned venture, with Ray Bazzolo at the helm and his son Dominic slated to work in the establishment.

Offering up pet food, grooming supplies, gifts and toys, the vision for the shop is as an alternative to the giant pet supply stores, but without the high prices of a boutique. Bazzolo said they will stock several brands of pet food for dogs, cats, and small animals. He added that he hoped to have a selection of fish and bird supplies shortly, but not at the initial opening.

“We are not one of those boutique shops, we will have price ranges more comparable to the big box stores. And we are not going to be a pushy type shop, with supplements and all that. We are going to carry very healthy stuff, no junk,” said Ray Bazollo.

The emphasis is on healthy food for pets, free of the fillers found in many pet foods. They intend to carry dry, canned and frozen raw foods.

“Through our distributors we are offering five or six brands. Just plain healthy, it doesn't have any of the junk that you don't want in your animals, no corn, no grain, no soy. We're sticking with very, very healthy stuff ... at a reasonable price.”

Hailing from Torrington, the Bazzolos had run a similar store in the Boston area for the last several years, but sought a location closer to home. Feeling the Torrington market a little saturated, he felt the Avon location was the perfect fit for this sort of business.

“Once we saw Riverdale Farms, it was just perfect.”

Dominic gained experience in the Massachusetts location and will work at the store full time. Ray also works full time in the medical field at a local hospital.

The Bazzolos expect the store to be open in the coming two weeks, as final preparations are made and the stock organized. A grand opening will follow probably sometime in the second or third week of July.

Pets are always welcome at the establishment, for those wishing to bring their animals along for the food purchase.

“We've always had pets. We have two dogs now. We love animals!” said Ray.

The store will also feature a selection of gifts for humans, as well as an assortment of supplies for smoking enthusiasts. 

“We are going to have collectibles and antique stuff, in a small part of the shop. We will also have smoker-type section, for people who like to roll their own tobacco, popular now given the price of cigarettes,” Ray Bazollo added.

The Riverdale Farms Shopping area is located at 124 Simsbury Rd. and contains dozens of small businesses.