Walking into Cosmopawlitan Pet Boutique + Spa on Queens Quay West is like walking into the home of a good friend. Customers receive a warm greeting at the door from the shop owner’s dog JJ, a gentle golden retriever. And if you happen to have your own furry friend in tow, owner Hoann Ignacio will join JJ at the entrance in seconds to offer up a fresh bowl of water.
You can tell there’s passion behind the counter at Cosmopawlitan. Offering professional grooming services for both cats and dogs, overnight boarding, food, treats, and all manners of pet paraphernalia, Cosmopawlitan is a one-stop-shop for your furry friends. The interior is designed to be an open space where animals are welcome to explore. Owner Hoann notes, “There aren’t many places in the city where your pet can feel completely at home, but I want my shop to be one of them.”
Many of the products available at Cosmopawlitan are produced by local Toronto designers, including The Hydrant and Peachy Keen who make beyond stylish collars, leashes, and accessories. But hold on sports fans, there’s something for you too! With an entire range of Blue Jays merchandise, you can count on your pet to root, root, root for the home team.
A sense of fun is a large part of the shop culture at Cosmopawlitan. Hoann hosts an annual Fashion Show and a Halloween event with a costume contest and runway–for both pets and owners alike. Once you’ve seen the furry fashions on display at Cosmopawlitan, it’s hard to walk away without treating your companion to something a little stylish.
I scheduled a grooming appointment for the first time in this place about a month in advance. I came with my dog for the appointment only to find out that our appointment had magically been cancelled. How did this happen?! I have no idea. And how did Cosmopawlitan salvage the situation? They didn't. I explained to the sales person working there that we have a party that night which is why I booked my dog's appointment a month ahead of time and I asked if they can at least stay even an hour longer just to accommodate for us since THEY messed up our appointment; but her response to me was simply "no there's nothing I can do". Well then this is my response to Cosmopawlitan: "Please learn to treat your customers better. If you want long-term customers and good recommendations for your business, learn to salvage a situation like this one. Was it really that hard to work an extra hour to satisfy a disappointed customer? No. Was it difficult to offer any sort of discounts for future service in order to make sure the customer returns to your store? No." Overall, I do NOT recommend this place. I would have been more understanding if they offered an alternative service or some sort of discount but they didn't even care to ask to reschedule the appointment. If you value your time and money and effort, take your business somewhere else. Or they may just randomly cancel your appointment and ruin your whole day's schedule.