I'm no stranger to pet stores, local or chain, boutique or not. To me, PetPeople is like a mixture of all those and here's why...
* Boutique-y: They have tons of natural, organic, hard-to-find items you won't see at places like Petco or Petsmart. They have all kinds of natural proteins and animal parts for gnawing--some I never knew existed! They also carry a lot of lesser-known, boutique-like brands that come with a heftier price tag. You definitely feel like you're getting quality, healthier merchandise here. Just know that you'll pay for that feeling with your wallet.
*Big Box-y: The layout, size and mass selection of the store definitely reminds me more of a pet mega-store rather than a local boutique. However, this is a regional chain. I just wish they have the deals of a big, old pet store. They do offer a rewards program--but I heard three people in line before me complain about it, which I found rather strange.
*Local Brick-n-Mortar: I've been to plenty of these around the CLE+ area and PetPeople definitely has the helpful staff of a local shop, without the overly-hippie vibe. I mean, my dog likes meat. Is that a crime? Haha. Where they don't remind me of the local shops is again, in the price tag. I've been to at least 4 other local shops that have better prices on the same merch.
Overall I just can't see myself going out of my way to shop for my pup here. The two times I have bought things have resulted in immediate self-kicks when I see the same things at other stores and shops for much cheaper. But that's not to say that I wouldn't stop by if I were around Rocky River--their selection definitely makes up for some short-comings.