Hoboken May Get A 'Camp Bow Wow' For Dogs, With 60 Cabins

HOBOKEN, NJ — Hoboken dogs whose owners are heading on vacation may get a new place to lounge if the national chain Camp Bow Wow opens a franchise on upper Grand Street. The prospective franchisees have applied to the city's Zoning Board to open at 1414-1418 Grand St., according to documents posted last week.

A summary of the application for waiver review, submitted by Rufus & Drefus LLC (Camp Bow Wow), states, "The proposed project involves a fit out of the ground floor commercial space for a 'doggy day care' facility. The facility will provide day and overnight care, ancillary services including basic grooming (e.g. bathing), retail and pick-up/drop-off services. The approximately 6,015 square feet of ground floor space will be divided into a walled off lobby and reception area off Grand Street, with areas for dogs in the rear. A new approximately 945 square foot mezzanine will be constructed in the northwest corner for offices and staff break areas. Behind the lobby will be approximately 60 'cabins' for dogs and three indoor play areas, a grooming area, and prep area for meals for the dogs."

The new facility would be in the city's former industrial northwest section of town, where several new developments have sprouted, and where new businesses like Little City Books and Bwe Kafe will soon open a branch. The doggie day camp would be in same building as the Dharma Suites extended stay hotel, adjacent to the Hoboken Biergarten.

The mile-square city of 53,000 people has a number of pet-friendly facilities, including two new veterinary offices that have opened in the last six months, and more than a half dozen dog parks.