Banning Celebrates PetSmart's Grand Opening

BANNING, CA — PetSmart has opened in the city of Banning, and residents came out in droves to check out the new store and its many offerings this week. The store, located at 300 S. Highland Springs Avenue, Suite 9, is open seven days a week: from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays.

The store will both employ area residents as well as provide opportunities for pet adoption within the city of Banning.

The Banning City Manager, Chamber of Commerce representatives, and Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez gathered at the new PetSmart to celebrate the grand opening of the pet and pet products store. This is the 174th PetSmart location in the California region, according to Greg Takeuchi, Regional Vice President of PetSmart. At the ceremony, he described what opening the business means to both the chain and the city.

The checkout line wrapped through the displays while residents viewed fish, reptiles like chameleons, birds such as parakeets and cats, and kittens available to adopt from the popular pet chain. Grooming and pet care products and services were also made available to residents with the opening of the new store.

"As we open new cities and towns, you can see the response from the city, we don't usually see this many city officials at store openings," he said. "The most important thing is pet parents will walk through the doors and that they come back."

The first 50+ residents waited in line for a free gift, store discounts and to take their pets on a visit through the store during the celebration.