Woof Gang Bakery franchisees expand on Long Island, to open 4th store in Albertson

Sensitive snouts can smell it: a dining room table covered in cookies releases scents of honey, wheat and warming spices.

Festive and frosted, the desserts — which are not for human consumption — are displayed strategically. The idea is to make Woof Gang Bakery & Grooming, a pet retailer that sells desserts for dogs alongside grooming and spa services, feel like a home, said franchisee Kyle Hoberman.

“Not only does it smell good, but it gives our dogs, and even our pet parents, that sense of, where their dog is going is a home,” said Hoberman, of Port Washington.

The Glen Cove store, which he and his wife, Julie, opened in September, is the Hobermans’ third franchised location on Long Island. In the spring or summer months, the couple plans to open a fourth store in Albertson, Hoberman said.

The expansion is part of a multistore agreement the Hobermans signed with Woof Gang in March 2023, Hoberman said.

“Our agreement was for five stores, so we would have one more after Albertson, but we remain very optimistic about the business, and as long as we see a need in the community, I think we will continue opening up Woof Gangs,” he said.

By the time the Hobermans signed the deal, pet industry expenditures in the United States had begun increasing sharply, according to the American Pet Products Association. From 2018 to 2020, industry expenditures increased by $12 billion, data on the APPA site shows. From 2020 to 2022, expenditures jumped $34 billion, and they have continued to rise since then.

As of the 2025 National Pet Owners Survey, 95 million U.S. households included a pet and 71 million owned dogs, according to APPA. 

The Hobermans, both 32, opened their first store in Port Washington in September 2024 and a second in Hicksville last December, Kyle Hoberman said.

Founded in Florida in 2007, Woof Gang says it has 450 stores in more than 30 states “open or under development." According to the site’s franchising page, 72% of the business is grooming, and just 28% is retail.

APPA, which did not immediately return a request for comment, reported $158 billion spent on pets in 2025 — an increase from $152 billion the previous year. The total included $68.3 billion spent on pet food and treats; $34.4 billion on supplies, live animals and over-the-counter medicine; $41 billion on veterinary care and product sales; and $14.3 billion on other services, including grooming, insurance, boarding, training, pet sitting and pet walking, according to the website. 

Woof Gang also has a store in West Islip owned by a different franchisee, he said. 

"Since 2022, we've more than doubled our footprint, bringing our signature boutique experience to more neighborhoods across the country," the Woof Gang marketing team told Newsday in an email.  

The brand has over 330 locations already open across the United States and Canada, the company said.

"Our growth reflects the increasing demand for premium, personalized pet care and the strength of our franchise model," the company said. 

Over the past two years, the Hobermans have watched booking technology and the line of treats they could provide to customers grow, he said. They have also seen safety and training for groomers and associates become more standardized, he added.

“There’s a lot of pet stores out there, there’s a lot of dog groomers out there, but what we felt Woof Gang brought was something that was completely unique and was really something that there was a need for in every community of America,” Hoberman said.

The grooming room is reminiscent of a hair salon for humans, Hoberman said. Each groomer has their own station, tool chest and mirror, he said. In 2024, the brand announced the release of its first pet cosmetics line, created in partnership with salon grooming brand Hydra.

When the Hobermans started looking into franchise options, their goldendoodle, Betty, was a puppy, Hoberman said.

“If anything, I say, I opened up a pet store for my dog,” he said.

By Arielle Dollinger

arielle.dollinger@newsday.com@aridollinger

Arielle Dollinger joined Newsday as a staff reporter in 2022. Previously, she covered local and national news as a freelancer for The New York Times, Newsday and other outlets.