Need an indoor space to exercise or train your pooch, celebrate his birthday and / or meet other dog people? The Zoom Room, a dog agility training center, will open Saturday, July 9 at 1701 N. Humboldt Ave., inside the former laundromat on the corner at Brady Street.
Opening day will include an all-day event with free "Introduction to Agility" classes throughout the day and a party / Wisconsin Humane Society fundraiser in the evening. Owner Gretchen Kabler will make a $5 donation to WHS on behalf of everyone who RSVPs and attends the party.
"Plus, we'll have the Doggy Disco going and a caricature artist doing sketches of the dogs in attendance," says Kabler. "Food will be catered by Jackie from 'The Fast Foodie' and, of course, we'll have beverages."
The Zoom Room is a national franchise. The Milwaukee location will offer dog and puppy training classes, an open gym, indoor dog park and a canine social club available for doggy birthday parties.
"I hope Milwaukee area dogs love to party, because in addition to private parties that people can book at the Zoom Room, we will also be hosting our own parties around holidays and other special occasions that everyone and their dogs will be welcome to attend," says Kabler.
Birthday parties cost $150 for up to 10 dogs with an additional charge of $15 per extra dog, with a maximum of 15 dogs. The fee includes private use of the Zoom Room, the exclusive Doggy Disco with a musical theme requested by the host, treats for the dogs and a mini agility lesson for all the attendees. Zoom Room also provides the plates, cups and utensils as well as set-up and clean-up.
"We have plenty of other options to choose from such as doggy cakes or frozen yogurt, hats, balloons or catering of people food, if desired," says Kabler.
After 18 years of working in "corporate America," Kabler said she wanted a change. She wanted to run her own business and pursue her passion for dogs.
"I've been a dog lover ever since my mom took me to a dog show in Madison when I was five years old and I met the most awesome Irish Wolfhound named 'Pat' that won Best in Show," says Kabler.
"I've had dogs all my adult life and have dabbled in many aspects of canine enjoyment. I have trained, competed and titled dogs in obedience, agility and conformation, as well as earned certificates for Canine Good Citizenship and Therapy."
Kabler had an idea for an indoor dog park and agility center that was similar in concept to Zoom Room, and stumbled upon the franchise while doing research on the Internet. At the time, there were only two Zoom Rooms in the country (there are now six others with five more locations opening soon), and the more she learned, the more intriguing it became.
"Not only did their training philosophies of positive methods only and perspective match mine, but I came to realize that the Zoom Room business model was much more practical than what I originally envisioned," says Kabler.
Instead of reinventing the proverbial wheel, Kabler realized Zoom Room had already developed what she needed, from technology to marketing. Last September, Kabler visited Zoom Room Hollywood for its grand opening and signed up as a franchisee shortly thereafter.
"I am so excited to be opening on Brady Street. It took a long time to find the right spot, but I couldn't be happier. I love the whole community, and the vibe of the street and its clientele is a perfect match for Zoom Room," says Kabler.
"I'm sorry for all the people with dirty clothes that have had to find a new laundromat, but I'm hopeful that in the long run, they will be happy for what Zoom Room will bring to the area, as well."
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
