Pet Presents Are Aplenty In Chester’s Winky’s Pet Boutique

CHESTER, NJ — Shoppers don’t need to sit on their phones or computers to order special gifts this holiday season for their dogs or cats.

They can take a ride and browse many of the shops in Chester for unique pet present ideas.

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One of the many stores is Winky’s Pet Boutique on 15 Perry Street, a woman-owned business operated by Susan Nagel-Rees over the past 15 years.

“We have tons of merchandise in stock,” Nagel-Rees told Patch.

With supply chain issues and shipping delays part of the pandemic complications for those shopping online, items have still made their way to Chester and Winky's Pet Boutique's shelves without issue. Most of the products in the store are made in the USA and even some that are from abroad, have arrived without delay.

Fair trade, hand-knit items from Ecuador are among the special gifts, with dog sweaters made by Incan descendants, which can keep a dog snuggly, while playing in the snow this winter.

Leashes, collars, toys, pet beds and treats, are just a few of the many items shoppers can find at Winky’s Pet Boutique.

Although Winky’s was one of the stores able to stay open in the pandemic, there were still challenges, Nagel-Rees said, business traffic slower with few people out in the stores. At the end of 2020, that picked back up, she added; and it’s been a pleasure for Nagel-Rees to see familiar faces again.

“We love to see people come in to shop,” she said. “It’s also nice to see their dogs.”

She said that shoppers, who come from nearby locations in Chester, Mendham, Long Valley and Peapack, plus sometimes as distant as New York City and beyond, can find a wealth of places to shop and visit while in Chester.

Sally Lunn’s Tea Shoppe and Restaurant is their neighbor, where she said visitors can stop to enjoy some English tea, cakes, pies, scones and other items, while spending the day in Chester.

“All of the stores in Chester have carefully curated their items,” she said of the more than 80 merchants in the downtown.

Chester, she reminds shoppers, is home to a number of pet stores, including Well Bred, Woof Gang Bakery, Adam’s Pet Safari with a focus on exotic animals, plus World of Birds, one of Winky’s Pet Boutique’s other neighbors.

Winky’s Pet Boutique is hosting a special visitor this Saturday with Santa coming to the store for pup photos. For a $15 donation to benefit NJSH Pet Rescue, pictures are from noon to 3 p.m.

Click here to book a time slot for a photo https://calendly.com/njshpetrescue/holidayphoto.

Pups who get their photo with Santa get a free nail trim at Jens Mutt Hut and can be entered into a drawing for a toy and treat basket. Visit the event page for the full details about pictures with Santa.

Come shop at Winky’s Pet Boutique for your special fur baby this holiday season and anytime, to to experience their products in person. To stay updated with all of the store’s items and events, visit them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/winkyspetstore.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.