PetSmart Sniffing Around Monrovia for New Store Location

National pet supply retailer PetSmart is sniffing around the old Circuit City building on Huntington Drive and could open up shop there by the end of the year, city officials said.

The Circuit City location near the 210 freeway has been vacant since 2008, when the electronics chain went bankrupt. Now, PetSmart is in the initial stages of leasing the property, according to Lauren Vasquez, a redevelopment specialist with the city.

Vasquez said the company's proposal will go before the planning commission later this month.

"We're hoping that all is good and we could get them there and get them open," Vasquez said.

The company could have the store up and running by late December of this year, according to City Manager Scott Ochoa's weekly report.

PetSmart would lease the entire 25,000 square foot building under their plan, city spokesman Dan Bell said. The store would "a flagship store featuring pet training, kennel and boarding, and a wide array of pet food and supplies," according to Ochoa.

Representatives for PetSmart would not confirm their plans when reached by e-mail, issuing only this statement:

"PetSmart is committed to supporting a happier life for pet parents and their pets, and in that effort, we are constantly evaluating new store locations. While this community may be such an option, we do not have definitive plans for a store location in this area at this time."

Vasquez said the city does not yet know how much sales tax revenue the store could generate, noting that it will be more than what the site currently contributes.

"At this point the site is vacant and not generating any sales tax," Vasquez said. "From our point, we want to get somebody in there that's a quality and stable" contributor.