Hello Spotlight: Maddie Mae’s Pet Pantry

Walk into Maddie Mae’s Pet Pantry on any given day and you’ll quickly realize this is not a typical retail store.

There’s movement behind the counter. A tail wagging. A curious nose peeking up over a display. Maybe a dog stretched out comfortably in a patch of sunlight, completely at home.

Customers don’t just walk in. They arrive with companions. Some eager, some shy, some already familiar with the space, pulling their owners toward a favorite corner of the shop.

It’s a place where dogs are not just welcome. They are part of the experience.

I’ve spent a lot of time in this store myself. It’s where I buy food and treats for my two dogs, and it’s a place I’ve come to trust. Not just for the quality of what’s on the shelves, but for the people behind it.

That trust is something you feel almost immediately when you walk through the door.

And like most things in Cambria, the story behind it runs deeper than you might expect.

The Story Behind the Business

Sixteen years ago, Chad and Christie Carroll woke up in their home in Seattle and made a decision that would change everything.

“I looked at her and said, ‘I’m moldy,’” Chad recalls, describing a growing sense that life in the Northwest had lost its spark. “I’d had enough of the weather, traffic, and general big city life.”

Humans Left to Right: Chad Carrol, Christie Carroll
Dogs Left to Right: Lanegan, Bluejay, Dulli, Starling

They knew they wanted to return to California, but not to another city. What they were looking for was something quieter, more connected.

Their two Old English Sheepdogs, Maddie Mae and Duke, had already begun to shape that path.

A deep love for their dogs led them to study animal nutrition, first for their own pets. Over time, that knowledge grew into something they wanted to share.

They set out on a road trip, searching for the right place to build something new.

Cambria stood out immediately, but it wasn’t entirely new to them.

“Cambria had always been one of our favorite places,” Chad says. “Growing up in Southern California, it was a go to place for family trips since the early seventies. It has always had a certain magic to it and small town charm.”

That familiarity made the decision feel less like a leap and more like a return.

“In 2009 the economy was tough,” Chad explains. “Several of the areas we visited were definitely feeling that. Cambria, however, didn’t seem that way. It also was wide open for our vision.”

They had talked about living there someday.

Then came the realization.
Why not now?

The decision came together quickly.

During that same trip, they noticed a “for rent” sign in the window of the JBJ Round Up building in the West Village. A phone call led to a conversation with a woman named Yvonne, whose warmth and encouragement helped make the moment feel right.

“We were so excited about the prospect of our new life becoming a reality that we signed the paperwork the next day.”

What started as an idea, shaped by a love for their dogs, had suddenly become real.

The Name and the Heart Behind It

The name Maddie Mae’s carries the weight of that beginning.

“Maddie Mae was our first dog as a couple,” Chad shares. “The name honors the deep love we had for her and what she taught us. We feel she lives on whenever we help a customer with their beloved companion.”

That sense of connection doesn’t stop with the name.

Spend a few minutes in the store and you’ll start to notice something else.
There are dogs everywhere. Behind the counter. Walking the aisles. Greeting customers. Resting near displays.

“Our dogs are definitely part of the daily routine,” Chad says. “They brighten the day for local customers and travelers.”

Some have become familiar faces over the years.

“Bluejay, Lanegan and Dulli are second generation Maddie Mae’s CEOs. Starling and Presley are third generation, along with Indie who manages the Pismo location and Tootsie who works in Cambria and Templeton.”

But it’s not just their own dogs.

Customers bring their companions in, too. Dogs arrive with their own personalities, their own stories, their own excitement about being somewhere that feels like it was built for them.

“We’ve not only been through our own generations of dogs through the years at Maddie Mae’s,” Chad says, “but we’ve also had the privilege of sharing the generations of customers’ pets as well.”

It’s a small detail at first glance.

But it’s also what makes the store feel alive.

Purpose and Philosophy

At its core, Maddie Mae’s is built on a simple belief.

“Pets are unconditional love,” Chad says. “What better to focus on?”

That belief shapes everything.

From the beginning, Chad and Christie made a decision about the kind of business they wanted to run.

“As to why we would only provide superior quality responsibly sourced products, that’s what they deserve for the happiness they bring to our lives. If we wouldn’t feed it to our dogs, we don’t want to feed it to yours.”

That philosophy extends beyond food.

The shelves are filled with carefully selected products, many of which you won’t find in larger retail chains.

Beds. Harnesses. Bowls. Treats. Small details that reflect intention.

Choosing what belongs in the store is not something they take lightly.

“I feel like that is an artistic secret,” Chad says. “It’s not something everyone can do. However, we very carefully choose the companies we decide to represent. Business practices and quality are very important.”

Walk through the shop and you can feel that curation.

Nothing feels random.

Growth and What It Takes

Over time, Maddie Mae’s has grown from its original Cambria location into multiple stores across the Central Coast.

But growth hasn’t come easily.

“Growing the business has been difficult,” Chad says. “Small business is hard and you have to be passionate about what you’re doing.”

What keeps them going is something simple.

“Spreading the love.”

The feedback from customers, both locals and visitors, continues to reinforce that purpose.

“The compliments are always nice.”

But even as the business expands, the focus remains grounded.

“Just to hold on to a sense of why we went down this road in the first place,” Chad explains, “which is our passion for pets and their well being.”

Behind the Counter

From the outside, a pet store can seem like a lighthearted place.
And in many ways, it is.

But there’s more happening behind the scenes than most people realize.

“For us, I think it’s the fact that we really do care,” Chad says. “Christie and I are not just in it for the money.”

That care shows up in the details.
Research. Product knowledge. Constant learning in an industry that continues to evolve.

“You have to make a living,” he says, “but that’s why we try so hard to do the research and constantly continue to learn.”

There’s also an emotional side to the work.
Moments that stay with you.

“Every time a customer returns and thanks us for fixing a health or other issue with their pets is one,” Chad says. “Also, the loss of anyone’s beloved fur baby. We’ve cried with a lot of people over the years.”

That kind of connection isn’t something you can manufacture.

It’s built over time.

Life in Cambria

For Chad and Christie, building Maddie Mae’s in Cambria has been something more than a business decision.

It’s personal.

“As a couple of people who had always loved Cambria, it’s a dream come true to be part of the community,” Chad says. “I don’t think any other place could have been a better fit for us and our vision.”

When they’re not at the store, their time still revolves around the same things that brought them here.

“We love to let the pups run on the beach,” he says. “We also love to support our fellow local businesses.”

And when asked what continues to stand out about Cambria after all these years, his answer feels familiar.

“Cambria is a place where time moves slower than others,” Chad says. “It’s managed to avoid the big corporate machine from taking over. It’s awesome to be able to live in a place where so many people choose to vacation.”

“Cambria is truly one of a kind.”

Closing Reflection

Some businesses begin with a plan.
Others begin with a feeling.

For Maddie Mae’s, it started with a moment, a road trip, and a deep love for two dogs that shaped everything that followed.

Sixteen years later, that same feeling still lives inside the store.

You can see it in the way customers are greeted.
In the care behind every product on the shelf.
In the dogs that wander comfortably through the space, as if they belong there.

Because they do.

And in a town like Cambria, where the best businesses often grow out of something real, Maddie Mae’s has become exactly that.

A place built on love, carried forward by community, and shared one customer, and one companion, at a time.

Visit Maddie Mae’s Pet Pantry

Location
614 Main St
Cambria CA 93428

805-924-1139

Website
maddiemaespetpantry.com

What You’ll Find
High-quality pet food, thoughtfully selected products, and a welcoming space for both pets and their people

Good to Know

• Dogs are always welcome
• Knowledgeable, hands-on guidance from the team
• A true local favorite for pet owners in Cambria and beyond