We knew it was really important for the Hastings community to get out into the community.”

Store Manager Krissy Palmer

The chain began with a store in Eagan in 1990, named for its founders Chuck Anderson and Don Tauer.

If residents are surprised to hear that Chuck and Don’s held a ribbon cutting last week, that might be because they have seen them in and around the community for months.
Booths for the upcoming store have appeared in local events from Rivertown Days to Hastings Pride long before the Hastings location opened its doors three weeks ago.
“We knew it was really important for the Hastings community to get out into the community,” said Store Manager Krissy Palmer.
Even before the store was slated to open in Hastings, the other Chuck and Don’s locations from Cottage Grove to Rosemount have been involved in activities around town from Paws in the Park to adoption events at Spiral Brewery.
Construction on the site has been underway for months, but the final push to open the store saw Chuck and Don’s staff unloading 43 pallets of merchandise in just three days.
“We have a great team,” said Palmer.
Last weekend the site celebrated its official opening where residents and their furry friends welcomed the new business into town with raffles and giveaways.
From aisles full of bags of food to buckets full of bones, the store carries a variety of goods from pet food to toys to treats with a focus on cats and dogs.
The store will feature a rotating monthly pet up for adoption. Residents are able to submit candidates online for this prestigious role which will be displayed on a chalkboard in the store.
For those less interested in furry friends, the store also carries food, toys and other essentials for reptiles, amphibians and birds.
The site also features grooming services as well as a self-wash station (only for pets, as confirmed by the Hastings City Council).
This new feature is expected to be “consistently popular,” as it is in other nearby stores, said Megan Hawkins, Area Manager at Chuck and Don’s. Pet owners can come in to wash dirty pets at their own leisure with shampoo, conditioner, and a blow dryer.
The Hastings location is the 34th store in Minnesota, and the first new Chuck and Don’s store in five years. The last new store in Minnesota opened in Apple Valley in 2020.
The chain began with a store in Eagan in 1990, named for its founders Chuck Anderson and Don Tauer. While the company is still based out of Minnesota, Chuck and Don’s has opened its doors in dozens of locations across a number of states including Wisconsin, Colorado and Kansas.
The store’s community focus remains even after officially opening its doors in Hastings.
Hawkins encourages organizations and events to reach out for partnerships, donations and Chuck and Don’s stands at local events.
“There is no event too big or too small,” said Hawkins.