The Shift to Digital
If you've been noticing your local pet shop hitting a bit of a dry spell, you aren't imagining it. PetSmart has confirmed it is shuttering its Sacramento location at 2705 E. Bidwell St. on November 22. This follows a major move back in July when the company closed its last San Francisco storefront.
It’s giving major 'death of the mall' energy. The reality is that the pet industry's bottom line is moving to the cloud. With heavy hitters like Chewy dominating the space, the convenience of autoship and same-day delivery has made the traditional "run to the store for food and litter" model look a bit dated, no cap.
Why the Brick-and-Mortar Grind is Hitting Hard
Experts note that when you stop going to the store for your recurring essentials, you also stop making those impulse buys that keep physical retail alive. Bankruptcy attorney Jonathan Shenson of Greenberg Glusker LLP explained that consumers are still spending big on their pets, but those dollars are migrating online.
PetSmart isn't the only one feeling the pressure. Petco dropped 25 stores in 2024 and another 24 in 2025. Even worse, Tractor Supply’s Petsense brand is currently in the process of closing 75 of its 208 locations after reporting negative four-wall cash flow.
Despite the closures, PetSmart isn't going anywhere yet—they’re keeping over 150 stores open across California and roughly 1,600 across North America. If you are in Sacramento, the company noted there is another location nearby in Folsom.
Why it matters
This is a classic case of convenience winning the battle. When your wallet chooses the lowest friction path—aka clicking 'buy' from your couch—the local storefronts that rely on your foot traffic to pay the rent simply can't compete. The vibes are off for traditional retail, and unless stores can offer something the internet can’t replicate, more closures are highkey inevitable.
