Clinic center: Vets Pets to open new Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina; Hong Kong retailer to open combined pet and baby concept store, and more

In Raleigh, North Carolina, Vets Pets has announced plans to expand its Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital network to a fifth location in the city's North Hills neighborhood. In Covington, Kentucky, Pet Supplies Plus has celebrated the grand opening of a new store. Meanwhile, this month, Hong Kong–based retailer Jakewell is set to open a new concept store combining pet and baby products at Airside, a large mixed-use shopping mall in the Kai Tak district, built on the site of the former Kai Tak Airport.

Vets Pets to open fifth Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh, North Carolina

Vets Pets, a North Carolina–based cooperative network of veterinary hospitals, has announced plans to open Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital early this summer in Raleigh’s North Hill neighborhood. The facility will be the fifth location in the Oak Heart family, joining existing practices at South Saunders, Dixie Trail, Longview, and Person Street, and will offer full-service companion animal medicine, diagnostic services, comprehensive dentistry with digital radiography, boarding, doggie day care, grooming, and training. The hospital will be led by Jake Clements, DVM, a North Carolina State College of Veterinary Medicine graduate who has been practicing at Oak Heart's Longview location since 2023. A grand opening event is scheduled for June 27, 2026.

"The North Hills area is growing fast, and we want to be there for the pet families moving in," George Ghneim, DVM, partner at Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital, said in a news release announcing the hospital’s opening.¹ "Dr Clements is a great fit to lead this hospital."

Pet Supplies Plus opens in Covington, Kentucky

Pet Supplies Plus has opened a new 10,000-sq-ft location in Covington, Kentucky. The store, located at 4307 Winston Ave, offers a wide selection of pet foods and products for dogs, cats, reptiles, birds, fish, and small animals, along with a full-service grooming salon and self-pet wash stations. The owners, Jimesh and Piyush Patel, have indicated plans to partner with local animal shelters, rescue organizations, and nonprofits to host year-round adoption events, fundraisers, and pet food drives.

"We were looking for a retail concept that felt personal and community-driven," Piyush Patel said in a company announcement.² "Pet Supplies Plus stood out immediately because of its neighborhood feel and commitment to pet parents."

Jakewell to open baby and pet hybrid concept store in Hong Kong

Jakewell, a Hong Kong–based baby retail brand, will open its largest store to date, spanning more than 5000 sq ft, at Airside in the Kai Tak district on May 8, 2026, marking the debut of what the company describes as Hong Kong's first baby and pet hybrid concept store. The new location introduces a dedicated Pet Zone carrying items such as pet strollers, pet car seats, and pet rocker beds, alongside its existing baby product offerings from more than 30 international brands. The store also features a test track simulating real street surfaces, including cobblestones and grass, for in-store stroller trials for pet and baby models.

According to Jakewell, the idea was inspired by customer feedback. "Many parents head out with both their baby and their pet, and previously had to visit multiple stores to get everything they needed," a brand spokesperson said in a news release.³

“As pet ownership in Hong Kong increasingly mirrors family dynamics, the concept of ‘human-pet harmony’ has evolved from a lifestyle attitude into a tangible consumer demand,” the company wrote.³

References

1. Vets Pets to open fifth Oak Heart Veterinary Hospital in Raleigh's North Hills. News release. Vets Pets. April 22, 2026. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://thevetspets.com/vets-pets-to-open-fifth-oak-heart-veterinary-hospital-in-raleighs-north-hills/
2. Pet Supplies Plus opens new Covington location, bringing neighborhood pet care to Latonia. News release. Pet Supplies Plus. March 10, 2026. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pet-supplies-plus-opens-new-covington-location-bringing-neighborhood-pet-care-to-latonia-302709622.html
3. From babies to fur babies: Jakewell to open Hong Kong's first baby × pet hybrid concept store at AIRSIDE on 8 May. News release. Jakewell. April 30, 2026. Accessed April 30, 2026. https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/from-babies-to-fur-babies-jakewell-to-open-hong-kongs-first-baby-O-pet-hybrid-concept-store-at-airside-on-8-may-302758656.html