Getting to Know More About All Pet Pantry

There are a variety of reasons a pet owner may want to explore holistic, or alternative, food options to leading commercial brands, says owner Tom Thornton.

One reason, he said, is that holistic options tend to eliminate grain products, and attempt to replace those calories with other ingredients from the food pyramid, like vegetables. Thornton said they may be suited for pets who need overall health improvement, suffer from certain allergies, or other digestive issues.

While brands aren’t necessarily formulated toward specific breeds, they are tailored to varying activity levels.

Thornton swears by holistic methods for his own brood of dogs, cats, birds, and bearded dragon (his family also occasionally fosters rescued German Shepherds). And his attention to pet health compelled him to , located at 4910A Main St. The store also serves as a center of operations for his family’s dog walking and pet care service.

Pet owners will find canned and dry varieties, as well as dehydrated mixes, and refrigerated foods. Not all food products Thornton offers are organic, but he said all are made from natural or holistic ingredients. Some brands include supplements.

He’ll soon be offering raw meat and bones, and crickets for fellow bearded dragon owners. All Pet Pantry offers products for most common household pets, excluding snakes.

Thornton can assist pet owners in finding the right brand for their pets, and has one- and two-portion samples on hand for clients to take as a tester, so to speak.

With an emphasis on customer service in mind, Thornton said he offers delivery to clients in Lisle, Bolingbrook, Glen Ellyn, Lemont, Naperville, Wheaton, and Woodridge. Customers may schedule regular deliveries, or request free, one-time delivery for orders over $30. (Find their weekly delivery schedule on their Facebook page.)

Thornton briefly shared a space with a Lemont pet grooming business, but found himself in need of a new storefront last month.

“The same day my wife was driving down this street, and she saw the empty space,” he said. The space had been freshly vacated by a short-term renter, and the Thorntons were able to prepare the space for opening in roughly three weeks.

Time time, the store is next to a pet services store-- .

In addition to pet food and care supplies, a space in the back is dedicated to . Thornton said his family boards a handful of pets at a time in their home. He employs walkers for communities like Darien, Downers Grove, Naperville, and Wheaton; his wife, Lori, and son, Andrew, do most of the walking for Lisle and northeast Naperville clients. (Lori is also savvy with social media; she runs the German Shepherd Rescue website, and posted an announcement about the store's upcoming opening on Lisle Patch's Facebook page.)

A grand opening will likely be scheduled for next month, and Thornton said he plans to have his son and a nephew promote the business this summer at the Lisle French Market.