Pet Retail Goes Digital: PetSmart’s San Francisco Closure Highlights Changing Shopping Habits

The global pet care industry continues to expand, but the way pet owners shop is changing rapidly. One of the clearest signs of this shift is PetSmart’s decision to permanently close its only store in San Francisco, California, citing changing consumer shopping habits and the growing popularity of online purchasing, subscription services and home delivery.

The closure is more than an isolated retail decision. It reflects a broader transformation taking place across the pet industry, where digital commerce is becoming increasingly important while physical stores are evolving from traditional retail outlets into service-focused destinations.

PetSmart Closes Its Last San Francisco Store

PetSmart confirmed that its store at 2675 Geary Boulevard will permanently close on July 19, 2026.

According to the company, more customers are choosing online ordering, Autoship subscriptions and same-day delivery, prompting PetSmart to adjust its retail footprint. Rather than exiting the San Francisco market entirely, the retailer plans to expand fulfillment capabilities at its nearby Daly City location to better support online orders.

The move marks the end of PetSmart’s physical presence within San Francisco city limits while reinforcing its investment in omnichannel retail.

Online Shopping Is Reshaping the Pet Retail Industry

The closure reflects a trend affecting retailers across multiple sectors. Pet owners increasingly prefer purchasing routine items such as:

• Pet food

• Cat litter

• Dog treats

• Flea and tick products

• Supplements

• Grooming supplies

through digital channels that offer recurring deliveries and competitive pricing.

Subscription programs such as Autoship reduce the need for frequent store visits while ensuring essential products arrive automatically before supplies run out. This convenience has become particularly attractive for owners of multiple pets and for bulky products such as large bags of pet food.

Convenience Is Becoming More Important Than Location

Several consumer trends are driving the transition toward online purchasing. Modern pet owners increasingly value:

• Home delivery

• Same-day shipping

• Subscription discounts

• Mobile shopping apps

• Digital prescription management

• Easy product comparisons

Instead of making monthly trips to a physical store, many consumers now complete purchases in minutes using smartphones or retailer apps.

PetSmart itself continues investing heavily in digital services, including online ordering, curbside pickup, delivery and appointment booking for grooming, boarding and veterinary services.

Physical Stores Are Becoming Service Centers

Despite fewer visits for routine shopping, physical pet stores continue to play an important role. Unlike many online retailers, brick-and-mortar pet retailers offer services that cannot easily be delivered digitally, including:

• Professional grooming

• Veterinary clinics

• Dog training

• Pet boarding

• Dog daycare

• Adoption events

These services continue to attract customers while generating higher-margin revenue than traditional retail merchandise.

Industry analysts increasingly view physical locations as service hubs that complement online sales rather than compete with them.

Rise of Omnichannel Retail

Rather than choosing between online and offline retail, leading pet companies are combining both. This omnichannel strategy allows customers to:

• Order online and collect in store

• Receive same-day delivery

• Schedule grooming appointments digitally

• Purchase medications through online pharmacies

• Access loyalty rewards across multiple shopping channels

The result is a more flexible customer experience that meets changing consumer expectations.

Independent Pet Stores Face Both Challenges and Opportunities

The growth of e-commerce presents challenges for independent pet retailers, particularly those relying heavily on product sales. However, many smaller stores continue to succeed by focusing on:

• Personalized customer service

• Premium pet nutrition

• Local community engagement

• Specialty products

• Expert advice

• Boutique grooming services

Consumers often seek trusted recommendations for nutrition, supplements and behavioral products—areas where knowledgeable local retailers can differentiate themselves from large online marketplaces.

Pet Industry Growth Remains Strong

Importantly, store closures do not indicate declining demand for pet care. Global spending on pets continues to rise as owners increasingly view companion animals as family members and invest more in nutrition, preventive healthcare, insurance, diagnostics and wellness products.

Growth is expected to continue across:

• Premium pet food

• Veterinary services

• Pet insurance

• Companion animal pharmaceuticals

• Digital pet healthcare

• Smart pet devices

• Preventive wellness products

The retail landscape is changing, but consumer spending on pets remains resilient.

What This Means for the Animal Health Industry

The shift toward online purchasing is creating new opportunities for animal health companies. Manufacturers of veterinary medicines, nutritional supplements and preventive healthcare products are increasingly partnering with digital retailers, online veterinary pharmacies and subscription platforms to reach pet owners directly.

Companies with strong digital distribution networks, efficient fulfillment systems and integrated customer engagement platforms are likely to gain a competitive advantage as e-commerce continues expanding.

At the same time, veterinary clinics and specialty pet retailers are expected to focus more heavily on professional services and personalized care—areas that remain difficult to replicate through online channels.

Industry Outlook

PetSmart’s decision to close its only San Francisco store reflects a broader transformation rather than a decline in the pet care industry. Consumers are increasingly choosing convenience, subscription services and digital shopping for routine purchases, while physical stores are evolving into destinations for veterinary care, grooming, training and other high-value services.

For retailers, success will increasingly depend on balancing physical locations with robust online capabilities. For manufacturers and animal health companies, the future lies in building seamless omnichannel strategies that connect products, services and digital experiences.

As pet ownership continues to grow worldwide, the winners in the next phase of pet retail are likely to be those that combine trusted in-person expertise with the speed and convenience of modern e-commerce.