We just care about pets. Everything we can do to support them, that’s what we’re about.”

Kristen Salinas, Senior District Manager

Chuck & Don's Pet Food & Supplies
1100 Vermillion Street
Hastings, MN 55033
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Pet lovers in Hastings will soon have a new go-to destination for everything from premium food and grooming services to expert advice and community connections, as Chuck & Don’s prepares to open a new store in town. While an exact opening date has not yet been finalized, the company is well into preparations and excited to welcome local customers.
“Hastings has been a big part of who Chuck and Don’s is, even if we haven’t had a store there,” said Kristen Salinas, Senior District Manager. “We’ve got a lot of pet parents that live in Hastings that shop at our Cottage Grove or Rosemount locations. So, it was kind of always on our radar, and we were just waiting for the perfect spot to come along.”
That spot in the Midtown Shopping Center at 1100 Vermillion Street, is now under construction, and when it opens, the Hastings location will offer more than just shelves of dog and cat food. It will include grooming services, self-wash bays, and a wide range of products for dogs, cats, and even small animals, birds, and reptiles.
“Hastings is actually going to be a very large location,” Salinas said. “It’s got a lot of retail space, which is nice, but it’s also going to have full service. That means self-wash bays and grooming services too.”
Although dogs and cats are the focus, Chuck & Don’s will carry a selection of essentials for pets like rabbits, bearded dragons, and birds. “We do have some basic needs,” Salinas said. “You might not find a full line for rabbits, but if you’re getting your dog food and you see we have hay, you can grab that too.”
Chuck & Don’s has been in business for 35 years, starting with a single store in Eagan. The Hastings location will become the 34th store in Minnesota, and the 70th overall across the four states where the company currently operates. Salinas said despite the growth, the brand remains committed to the personal, neighborhood-style experience that built its reputation.
“We really want to make sure that we treat every single pet parent like they’re VIP, because we actually believe that,” she said.
Hiring is underway, with the company looking for part-time team members, key holders, and grooming staff. Chuck & Don’s hires employees as young as 16 and sees that early work experience as a meaningful part of the business.
“We employ a lot of high schoolers, and I’m really proud of that,” Salinas said. “This might not be their career path, but we can help them learn great customer service and give them a positive first job experience.”
The Hastings store will be led by a manager who is originally from the area, which Salinas sees as a key advantage.
“She’s from Hastings, and she really understands the area and what pet parents are looking for,” she said. “That helps when you’re having conversations around things like price points. A lot of our products are natural or organic, so having someone who can explain that and really connect with people makes a difference.”
Community involvement is another major piece of the Chuck & Don’s identity. The company partners with rescue organizations for donation drives, volunteer events, and in some stores, even in-house cat fostering.
“We’re already looking for local partners in Hastings,” Salinas said. “We do a lot of work with rescues across our fleet. We know not every rescue can bring animals into our store, but we’ll support them however we can.”
That support includes everything from sharing information about adoptable pets, to hosting tables with pictures and contact info, to fundraising and supply drives. In some locations, Chuck & Don’s even opens early to allow reactive rescue dogs to shop quietly, without the stress of crowds.
“We just care about pets,” Salinas said. “Everything we can do to support them, that’s what we’re about.”
With a large retail space, full-service offerings, and a team focused on knowledgeable, compassionate customer care, the new Hastings store is shaping up to be a strong addition to the Chuck & Don’s family.
“We’re small but mighty,” Salinas said. “We’ve been doing this for 35 years, and expanding into a town like Hastings, with so many pet parents already connected to us, feels exactly right.”