About

The House

Red Dog House was born of necessity. After 20 years in the bond business, 10 of them in New York City, owner Steve Greenberg wanted - no, needed a change. He and his wife Marice loved New York City, but were thinking of starting a family and both had aspirations of being their own boss.

Steve was raised in Central Illinois and Marice was an Arkansas girl, born and raised. They met in Chicago in the 1980s and each lived there at one point or another before they married. The two pondered the move from New York and where best to raise a family (and a business) of their own. They quickly determined that the things they both wanted were simple - more green space, easy access to a body of water and to be closer to family. Chicago fit the bill perfectly.

And so the business research began. They knew the kind of store they wanted - one with their modern sensibilities, with original and interesting merchandise, and with customer service at its heart.

After much soul searching and a class or two (on how to actually open a retail operation), it came down to something they both loved - dogs. Their beloved Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Stella, was their "baby" at the time, and was spared no toy, treat, bed or matching collar and lead. She became their inspiration. Two years later, after hundreds of name ideas and many a file folder stuffed with product ideas, they were ready. The loft in New York was sold, a Chicago home was purchased and another (human) baby was on the way. The change had come.

Off they went! Products were selected, purchased and delivered and the boxes soon filled the garage, back hall and eventually the family room of the Greenberg's new home. All the while they searched for the perfect retail space for the newly named Red Dog House. During this time Stella's self-control was no doubt tested as she lived with boxes of treats and toys literally under foot (paw) - never touching a single one.

They eventually found the perfect location in the Bucktown neighborhood and the new building at 2031 North Damen was exactly what Red Dog House needed. Steve and Marice designed the displays, found the ideal shade of red for the floor, and planned the store layout to the last detail. Finally, after several years of change, study, sweat and tears Red Dog House opened in September of 2006 - and a dream was realized.

The Dog

The smiling face of Red Dog House belongs to Stella, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier. She (like her human Mom, Marice) is a southern girl who ended up in New York City. In early 2003, the Greenbergs decided they wanted a dog, but not just any dog -- they wanted the "perfect city, child loving, big but not too-big, short-haired, easy going dog".

The Dog StellaDog encyclopedias and web sites were explored. Friends who showed and bred dogs were questioned and a "Staffie" fit the bill perfectly. A friend in the dog show world led the Greenbergs to a breeder in Houston, Texas. She had a litter on the way and a little girl would be available to adopt as soon as she was old enough to leave her birth mother. Her name would be Stella Rose.

Her new "parents" waited and readied the house for their first "baby" and on the big day, Marice went to JFK airport and picked up a small, excited, slightly confused red bundle of fur who had just made the biggest trip of her young life. Crate, puppy and proud parent loaded into a cab and went home to get acquainted and wait for Daddy.

Stella became Steve and Marice's passion and eventually inspired them to create Red Dog House. Their "brick-on-a-leash" (as she is fondly known) patiently posed for the store logo art and is the official tester of most of the merchandise carried at Red Dog House. Stella's most important role these days (other than that of muse and in-house product tester) is of chief playmate and kiss-giver to her human baby sister.