Doggie Delights Opens On Waterfront

(Thursday) August 12, 2010

By James Cullum
alexandrianews.org

Walter Bialas and Jacks, his six-year-old Pyrenees and Emily Campbell, a Barkley Square sales associate at the Doggie Delights at Night happy hour on Alexandria's waterfront. (Photo: James Cullum)

Old Town will soon be swarming with canines straining on leashes toward the alluring scent of gourmet doggie treats. Doggie Delights, which opened last month on the waterfront, has a happy hour every night from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. with $4 beer and wine – for humans, that is.

The Snack Shak. (Photo: James Cullum)

Bittersweet operates the small bakery, labeled the Snack Shak, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. At 5 p.m., with the sandwiches and drinks stashed in refrigerators, Doggie Delights takes over. The bakery is a store for dogs, specializing in birthday cakes, gourmet and homemade natural treats and chews.

“I wish we had more people out here, but it’s just too hot out. I think things will change once it gets cooler out,” said Doggie Delights owner Kristina Robertson, who also owns Barkley Square Dog Bakery in Del Ray and Karing By Kristina, a pet sitting business. “We also do a raffle every night, where, if you buy a $1 ticket, if your number is called, then you get 50% of the money that’s in the pot and the other half goes to the Alexandria Animal Shelter.”

The dog cookies, which cost between $1 and $4, are in the shapes of designer shoes, bottles of champagne, colorfully wrapped boxes and martini glasses. The store also sells t-shirts for dogs and dog toys. “It’s an amazing location here on the waterfront” Robertson said. “Thursday night is our best night because the Potomac Riverboat Company just started doing these canine cruises and the people who participate come in with their dogs and buy treats, or, if they miss us, will come and buy treats as soon as the cruise is over.”

All natural treats at Doggie Delights. (Photo: James Cullum)

Walter Bialas came to the happy hour with Jacks, his six-year-old Pyrenees. “I’ve been a client of Kristina’s ever since I came to Old Town, which was three years ago. Whenever I leave town, I always depend on her and trust her,” he said.

Dog owners, won’t have to drink alone. “We have dog beer,” said Doggie Delights pastry chef Kat Alexander. “It’s called Happy Tail Ale, which is beef broth, with glucosamine, which is good for their joints and vitamin E, which is good for their coats.”