Hollywood Feed Store at 34 N Hawkins Ave, Akron, OH: An In-Depth Store Profile

Store Overview

The Hollywood Feed location at 34 N Hawkins Ave, Akron, OH 44313, is a specialty retail store focusing on natural and holistic foods and supplies for dogs and cats. This store was formerly known as PetPeople before the Hollywood Feed brand was introduced to the Akron area, bringing with it a philosophy centered on high-quality pet nutrition, expert customer service, and strong community engagement. The store is part of a national chain with roots dating back to the 1950s in Memphis, TN, and has since expanded to over 170+ locations across 19 states. The company's approach is distinctly “different breed” from typical pet supply outlets, emphasizing employee expertise, quality product curation, and a focus on both pet and pet owner satisfaction.

Located in the Fairlawn area of Akron, this Hollywood Feed branch serves as a vital resource for local pet parents who value specialized care and advice for their four-legged companions. The store's environment offers a clean, well-organized, and welcoming shopping experience, supported by knowledgeable staff—each receiving over 40 hours of training annually from veterinarians, nutritionists, product vendors, and animal behaviorists. Hollywood Feed’s ongoing commitment to education and customer assistance is reflected both in its “Feed Team” and through its free educational offerings at Hollywood Feed University, accessible to all customers.

Beyond retail, the store provides a comprehensive suite of services—such as curbside pickup, local delivery, and self-service dog wash facilities—and regularly hosts community events that solidify its reputation as both a retailer and a neighborhood hub. The blend of exceptional service, specialty products, customer education, and community involvement distinguishes this Hollywood Feed location within the local pet retail landscape.

Key Store Details

This section summarizes the core operational and service details for the Hollywood Feed store in Akron, OH. Each of these points plays into the store’s identity as a leading, customer-oriented pet supply retailer in the region. Following, each aspect is expanded upon for greater context and insight.

Product Offerings

The product curation at Hollywood Feed, 34 N Hawkins Ave, centralizes on natural, holistic, and USA-made pet food and supplies. The selection is rigorously curated to include only high-quality brands, with a strong emphasis on nutritional value, safety, and ethical sourcing. The store’s product mix encompasses a comprehensive range of essentials and specialty items focused primarily on dogs and cats, though limited supplies for small animals such as rabbits are reported to be available on occasion.

Food & Nutrition

Hollywood Feed is renowned for its range of premium dog and cat foods. The shelves feature top national and boutique brands—from grain-free and raw diets to prescription formulas and limited-ingredient choices. The brand selection is always being updated, but typically includes options like Fromm, Farmina, Stella & Chewy’s, Primal, and more, which are often noted for their whole-food ingredients and transparent supply chains. Many foods cater to pets with allergies, sensitivities, and specialized dietary needs.

Alongside kibble and canned foods, the store offers freeze-dried, dehydrated, and frozen raw diets, popular among pet owners seeking minimally processed pet nutrition. The store also stocks nutritional supplements, vitamins, and functional treats—such as those supporting joint health, digestion, and dental hygiene.

Treats and Chews

An important extension of the nutritional category is the store’s wide array of US-made dog chews, biscuits, soft treats, and training aids. Chews range from single-ingredient bully sticks (with transparency regarding sourcing and processing), antlers, natural bones, to dental and enzymatic chews. Cat treat options often feature freeze-dried meats and grain-free snacks.

Toys, Accessories, and Living Essentials

Hollywood Feed prioritizes the enrichment and comfort of pets through its toy selection, including high-durability options for power chewers, interactive puzzle toys, plushies, and feline laser or feather toys. Bedding options—including their signature Mississippi Made Donut Beds—are regularly highlighted, with a focus on comfort, support, and washability.

Other essentials: Carriers, crates, leashes, collars, training devices, feeding dishes, fountains, grooming tools, litter boxes, and cat litter (including popular clumping and dust-free options) occupy a significant part of store inventory. Collars and leashes made in the USA, as well as custom embroidery, are periodically featured.

Health, Wellness, and Lifestyle

Supplements, grooming supplies (including specialty shampoos and treatments), and flea/tick preventatives broaden the wellness offering. The store’s shelf space extends to outfit pet owners with travel gear, pet apparel (seasonal sweaters, raincoats), odor control products, cleaning supplies, and even memorial items for pet loss.

Limited Small Animal Selection: While primarily dog and cat-focused, the store sometimes offers select items for rabbits and other small mammals—a detail noted in some customer feedback.

Exclusive Store Brands and Promotions

Hollywood Feed distinguishes itself by carrying several exclusive brands and frequently rotating in-store promotions. Its proprietary Hollywood Feed Select treats, Mississippi Made beds, and Prudence supplements are unique to the Hollywood Feed chain. Seasonal sales, monthly specials, and holiday events (like the 19th Birthday Sale featuring company-wide 19% discounts) provide regular value opportunities for shoppers.

Product expertise is a recurring point of customer praise: staff are known for guiding pet parents to the right foods and supplies for specific health needs or lifestyle preferences, helping personalize the shopping experience.

Hours of Operation

Hollywood Feed at 34 N Hawkins Ave maintains consistent and extended hours to meet the needs of busy pet owners. With only slight differences on Sundays and during select holidays, the schedule is as follows:

  • Monday to Saturday: 9:00 AM - 7:30 PM
  • Sunday: 10:00 AM - 6:30 PM

Holidays: Closed on Thanksgiving Day (Nov 27) and Christmas Day (Dec 25); special hours may apply for other holidays.

Of note, self-service dog wash facilities close 30 minutes prior to the store’s official closing, to allow time for cleaning and sanitization. These hours ensure excellent accessibility for pet owners with varying work and lifestyle schedules, and the store’s early opening and late closing times are particularly convenient for those needing to shop before or after standard business hours.

Customer Reviews and Community Perception

Ratings and Aggregate Scores

Hollywood Feed’s Akron store consistently earns high average ratings across multiple platforms, with scores typically ranging from 4.6 to 4.9 stars out of 5, derived from hundreds of reviews on Google, Facebook, BirdEye, and third-party business directories.

  • BirdEye: 4.9 out of 5 (363 reviews)
  • Chamber of Commerce: 4.6 out of 5 (155-193 reviews depending on platform/date)
  • Google Reviews: Echo similar averages
  • Facebook: Highly positive, albeit based on fewer formal reviews

Qualitative Feedback

Staff Friendliness and Expertise

Many reviewers highlight the exceptional friendliness, knowledge, and helpfulness of the staff. Customers commonly recount instances when employees not only recommended products but also took extra steps: allowing dogs to try treats in-store, offering tailored advice for unique dietary or behavioral needs, and displaying a genuine enthusiasm for pets. The environment is described as “welcoming,” “well-organized,” and “super friendly,” fostering repeat visits and word-of-mouth recommendations. Staff are often commended for their patience in addressing questions—from basic pet nutrition to special health conditions.

Cleanliness, Organization, and Product Availability

The store is almost universally described as clean, well-organized, and well-stocked. Customers appreciate the ease of finding products and the frequently refreshed inventory. While the store is mainly focused on dogs and cats, several reviewers appreciate that supplies are high-end, holistic, and responsibly sourced. One note from reviews is that the rabbit and small animal section is more limited, but the staff’s willingness to special order or price match for out-of-stock or unique products is often noted as a positive counterbalance.

Pricing and Value

On pricing, opinions are mixed but mostly positive. Some reviewers mention the store as “a nice place for a very wealthy person” due to the focus on premium brands, but others counterbalance this by noting the store’s frequent promotions, price match guarantee, and rewards through the loyalty program. The frequent customer rewards and price matching often turn this into a net positive for the typical pet parent looking for specialty foods or treats.

Loyalty and Repeat Customer Experiences

Statements such as “this was my first visit, but I’ll definitely be going back” and “I drive across town just to shop here” are not uncommon. The Frequent Feeder loyalty program and frequent special events draw in repeat shoppers and keep customer engagement high. Events such as adoption days, raffles, and celebration sales add to the sense of community and make shopping more than a transactional experience.

Outlier or Critical Reviews

Negative comments are extremely rare, typically regarding price or, occasionally, product selection limitations for less common pets. However, these are often followed by positive acknowledgments of staff efforts to help with alternatives, price matching, or special orders.

Notable Features and Services

Hollywood Feed at 34 N Hawkins Ave sets itself apart not just as a pet retailer but as a holistic pet resource center and community hub. The following features elevate it above more utilitarian competitors:

  1. Expert-Led Staff and Continuing Education: Staff or “Feed Team” associates undergo over 40 hours of training annually, learning directly from veterinarians, nutritionists, animal behaviorists, and vendors. This rigorous and ongoing training ensures that associates can deliver evidence-based recommendations, address a wide range of dietary or behavioral issues, and assist pet owners dealing with complex needs (such as prescription diets, allergies, or raw food transitions). The presence of Hollywood Feed University—available to both staff and customers—signifies a commitment to ongoing pet education and transparent, expert-backed guidance.
  2. Self-Service Dog Wash: The self-serve dog wash station is a popular customer amenity. For a flat fee (typically reported as $15.99 per wash), pet owners gain access to professional-grade tubs, grooming brushes, shampoos, conditioners, towels, and high-powered dryers. The convenience of not having to clean up at home, combined with the access to professional-quality products and ergonomically designed facilities, make this service a local favorite, especially among dog owners with larger breeds or dogs that dislike home baths. The dog wash closes half an hour before the store for essential cleaning and maintenance.
  3. Price Match Guarantee: Hollywood Feed stands behind its 100% Price Match Guarantee, ensuring that customers never pay more than a local or major competitor for an identical item. This policy is especially appealing considering the store’s premium inventory. Price comparisons factor in shipping and delivery costs, and all related discounts, reinforcing transparency and value for cost-conscious shoppers.
  4. Loyalty/Rewards Program: The Frequent Feeder Program is a signature perk: customers earn free bags or cans of food after purchasing a certain number of items from participating brands (e.g., buy 12 get the 13th free, or as determined by brand specifics). Loyalty rewards are tracked per brand, and participation is easy—shoppers simply inform any team member at checkout or track points via their customer account. This program adds quantifiable value for regular customers and is particularly impactful for those using premium foods or supplements, where the savings accumulate quickly.
  5. Flexible Shopping and Accessibility: The store offers multiple shopping modalities catered to modern lifestyles: in-store browsing, curbside pickup (no minimum purchase, same-day service), and local delivery. Customers appreciate the no-minimum, no-fee curbside service, allowing those with mobility concerns, time constraints, or COVID-19 precautions to enjoy frictionless, contact-free purchasing without sacrificing access to expert staff advice.
  6. Community Events and Animal Welfare: Hollywood Feed actively participates in the local pet community, hosting regular adoption events (in partnership with local rescues), educational seminars, seasonal parties, raffles, and specialty sales. For example, kitten and cat adoption days, “birthday” celebrations with storewide discounts, and themed giveaways create opportunities for meaningful engagement. These functions foster a sense of loyalty and community beyond strictly commercial interactions.
  7. Online Ordering and Digital Engagement: Hollywood Feed maintains a robust online presence, offering easy web-based ordering for delivery or pickup. The website features real-time specials, product details, care guides, educational resources, and event information. Customers can also sign up for email and SMS marketing to receive notifications about storewide sales, new deals, store events, and educational content, further enhancing convenience and ongoing value.

Community Perception and Reputation

Hollywood Feed’s reputation within the Akron/Fairlawn community is extremely positive, with both shoppers and local organizations pointing to a blend of premium offerings, staff expertise, and welcoming atmosphere. Pet adoption agencies report strong turnout for rescue events hosted at the store, local bloggers and social media groups routinely cite the location as a “must-visit” for new pet parents, and repeat customers are quick to mention their appreciation of the loyalty rewards and price match guarantees.

The store is regarded as inclusive and supportive of pet-related causes. By prioritizing holistic health, animal welfare, and accessible expert advice, Hollywood Feed positions itself as a trusted advisor rather than just a supplier. The recurring themes of excellence in staff service, product selection, and community focus appear across independent review sites, Google, Facebook, and pet industry directories.

Staff Training and Expertise

Hollywood Feed differentiates itself strongly through its commitment to extensive staff education and development. Employees at the Akron location receive upwards of 40 hours of expert-led training per year, covering medical, nutritional, and behavioral topics. Courses from Hollywood Feed University supplement in-store experience, teaching not only foundational pet nutrition but also advanced troubleshooting for pets with health challenges—a further indication of the store’s “pet wellness first” principle.

Such depth of training means customers routinely report staff as “unbelievably helpful” and “professional, taking the time to help find just the right products.” The practical upshot: a shopping trip can involve an informal consultation on supplements, dietary transitions, or the best products for a pet’s specific temperament or health need, all delivered at no extra charge.

Loyalty and Rewards Programs

As outlined, the Frequent Feeder Program is a central tool for building customer loyalty and rewarding repeat business. Its design—where eligible purchases of pet food, treats, or litter are tracked and redeemed for free products—adds tangible value for shoppers and sets Hollywood Feed apart from “big box” competitors where rewards are often less substantial or more difficult to access. The program covers many bestselling brands (including Fromm, Farmina, Stella & Chewy’s, and others), and also works for online and curbside orders (delivery of the free reward may carry typical delivery charges). For busy households, this translates to both convenience and savings over time.

Accessibility and Location Details

Hollywood Feed’s site at 34 N Hawkins Ave is easily accessible by major local thoroughfares and situated in a retail-friendly part of Akron’s Fairlawn neighborhood. The facility features abundant parking, ADA-compliance, and wide aisles for easy navigation by customers with strollers, wheelchairs, or leashed pets. Prominent signage and intuitive floor layout contribute to a welcoming atmosphere for both regulars and first-time visitors.

The location serves not only central Akron but also neighboring communities, benefiting from strong visibility, walkability, and proximity to other retail amenities. This physical accessibility is augmented by virtual convenience through its online ordering, curbside, and delivery programs.

Online Presence and Ordering Options

The Hollywood Feed brand invests heavily in its digital infrastructure, with its Akron location prominently featured on the company’s official website, social media platforms, and third-party directories. Customers can:

  • Order online for in-store pickup, curbside, or same-day delivery
  • Browse real-time inventory, specials, and educational content
  • Sign up for email and SMS alerts to receive timely updates about promotions, product launches, community events, and changes to store hours or policies
  • Participate in educational offerings and Q&A sessions via Hollywood Feed University, with free access to webinars led by veterinarians, trainers, and nutritionists

The online ordering process is streamlined and mobile-friendly, allowing pet parents to shop, customize orders, and manage accounts from home or on-the-go. Curbside pickup is especially valued, with same-day fulfillment if orders are placed before 6:00 PM and no minimum purchase required. Purchasing online also counts towards Frequent Feeder loyalty points, reinforcing omnichannel loyalty.

Pricing, Promotions, and Value

Hollywood Feed’s pricing policy is guided by its Price Match Guarantee, which ensures that customers don’t pay more than they would at local or national competitors for the same product. The store often points customers to ongoing specials and discounts, such as the 19th Birthday Sale (offering 19% off all items except grooming and self-wash), holiday or “Flash Sale” events, and exclusive digital deals accessed by loyalty members.

The combination of reward programs, routine specials, and the transparency of the price match policy adds up to competitive value despite the frequent focus on premium or specialty products (which can carry higher MSRPs than mass-market pet foods or supplies). Shoppers often cite being “worry-free” about value thanks to these policies and appreciate the additional reassurance when purchasing high-ticket nutrition or gear for their pets.

Unique or Seasonal Events

Community events are a key feature at the Akron Hollywood Feed location. Throughout the year, the store hosts a rotating schedule of adoption events, seasonal parties, and themed sales that draw significant foot traffic and foster a genuine sense of neighborhood connection. Recent and upcoming examples include:

  • Pet adoption events: Featuring local rescues with cats, kittens, and sometimes dogs available for adoption, as well as raffles for gift baskets and special prizes for attendees.
  • Storewide celebratory sales: Such as the annual birthday event offering double-digit discounts across most categories, which not only drive sales but also thank the community for their support.
  • Educational Workshops: Expert-led seminars on topics like pet first aid, nutrition, or behavioral training are periodically offered, either in person at the store or virtually via Hollywood Feed University.

Each event serves not only to bring in new customers but also to encourage social connection and build a visible, active hub for Akron’s broader pet-loving population.

Conclusion: What Makes Hollywood Feed, Akron Unique?

Hollywood Feed at 34 N Hawkins Ave, Akron, stands out not simply for what it sells but for how it does business. The combination of premium natural products, deeply trained and genuinely pet-loving staff, robust loyalty programs, accessible location, and continual community involvement sets this store apart from both national chains and small local retailers. The recurring themes in reviews—consistency, warmth, expertise, and meaningful value—demonstrate that the store’s reputation is not just marketing but a lived reality for the Akron/Fairlawn pet community.

Customers can expect:

  • Personalized service and expert advice
  • A curated selection of the best in pet nutrition and wellness
  • Practical amenities (dog wash, curbside)
  • Ongoing value through price matching and loyalty rewards
  • True community spirit through events, rescue partnerships, and education

For pet owners who see their animals as family and want individual attention, specialty products, and a supportive, local experience, Hollywood Feed in Akron is a standout choice in Ohio’s pet retail landscape.

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