Bentley’s Barkery has reopened its doors in downtown Fresno, marking a return to retail after closing its Fig Garden Village location in 2023. The shop, which specializes in baked goods for dogs, is now operating out of the ground-floor space at the 0037ful apartment complex at 1612 Fulton St., #101. The apartment complex has been open since 2013 and features three-story units with work-from-home spaces on the ground floor.
Owner Ebony Brown previously shifted the business model to offer monthly subscription boxes for customers in Fresno and Clovis after leaving Fig Garden Village. These boxes included baked treats and toys for pets. After running the subscription service from home for over a year, Brown decided to return to a storefront.
“It’s the best of both worlds; my commute is short, I am here full-time,” Brown said. “Sometimes I have to make a conscious effort to leave the house and leave the business.”
Brown noted that working from home provided convenience but also made it difficult to separate personal life from work. She believes having a physical shop helps her build stronger relationships with customers.
Since reopening, Bentley’s Barkery has seen steady sales. “Business has been great,” Brown said. “We had a little bit of uptick from TikTok, which makes you reevaluate your systems and the way you do things.” She added that many new customers are finding them through TikTok and are already familiar with their products before visiting.
“Sometimes with other people you have to ask, ‘How did you hear about us?’” she said. “But they [TikTok customers] come in and they’re like, ‘We saw you on TikTok.’ I love that.”
Brown explained that this increase in online attention helped prepare her for future growth: “That uptick was intense, but it really does prepare you for when you go through that channel,” she said.
Marketing challenges remain due to the store’s location, but Brown values building connections with longtime patrons as well as newcomers attracted by social media buzz or subscription boxes.
“The purpose of the box — yes, it’s to get the treats at the door — but it’s for the community events,” she said. “I really want to make sure that everyone’s like ‘This isn’t just a box at the door.’”
The business now serves a mix of repeat visitors, first-time shoppers and subscription buyers whom Brown often meets in person for the first time at her new location.
Looking ahead, Brown plans to expand her offerings beyond dog treats: “We’re just trying to get things steady here,” she added. “My goal is to have them out by the end of the month.” By then, she hopes to introduce treats designed specifically for cats.
