I Love Spanaway Local Business Spotlight: Woofers Grooming & Goodies
Knock Knock Homies!!
If you've been following I Love Spanaway, you know the whole purpose behind this is simple: I want to highlight the businesses, people, food, places, and stories that make our community what it is. And sometimes the best way to find one of those stories is to experience the business yourself.
That's exactly what happened with Woofers Grooming & Goodies.
I recently took my three Toy Australian Shepherds, Domino, Korrah, and Maple, to Woofers for their first grooming experience there. Whenever you're leaving your dogs with somebody new, there's always that little bit of hesitation. These aren't just dogs. They're family. But the experience was phenomenal. The dogs did great. They came back looking AMAZING. And after seeing how they were treated, I knew I wanted to know more about the people behind this Spanaway business.
So I sat down with owner Lyn for an I Love Spanaway Local Business Spotlight, and what I learned is that Woofers is about a whole lot more than grooming dogs.
From the automotive business to a Spanaway institution
The Woofers story started somewhere you probably wouldn't expect.
Before Woofers, Lyn and her husband were in the automotive business. They owned a company specializing in spray-on truck bedliners. Then a small grooming business came up for sale. Lyn couldn't stop thinking about it. Eventually, they sold their automotive business, purchased the grooming shop, and completely transformed it into what Woofers is today.
But the decision to build the business in Spanaway wasn't random. Spanaway is home. Lyn grew up here. Both of her parents grew up here. Her dad still lives about five minutes from Woofers and stops by regularly. That connection came through loud and clear when I asked her why she loves Spanaway.
"I love Spanaway because I grew up here and I have so many fond memories. It was a great small town to grow up in."
That's the kind of story I want I Love Spanaway to tell. This isn't somebody who picked a location on a map because the demographics looked good. Her roots are here.
When they say family business, they mean FAMILY
One of my favorite things I learned during the interview was just how much of a family operation Woofers really is. When you walk through the door, the smiling face greeting you might be Lyn's daughter, her son, his girlfriend, or even one of the grandkids. The kids spend so much time around the business that Woofers is basically part store, part grooming salon, and part extended family home.
And you can feel that.
Lyn described Woofers in three words: Family. Friends. Dogs. After hearing some of her stories, that description makes perfect sense.
Nervous about leaving your dog with a groomer?
This was important to me personally. Taking Domino, Korrah, and Maple somewhere new meant I wanted to know they were going to be comfortable and treated well.
Lyn understands that concern. She told me they regularly get dogs who are shy or nervous when they first arrive. Instead of trying to rush them through the process, those dogs get some extra love and attention. Their groomers are dog lovers, and making the dogs feel comfortable and safe is part of the experience. Lyn encourages people who are unsure about a new groomer to come check Woofers out first. Bring your dog in. Let them walk around. Let them get familiar with the place. Watch the dogs coming in and out.
Her point was basically this: watch the dogs. They'll tell you everything you need to know. After taking my three there, I understand exactly what she means.
What does Woofers offer?
Woofers provides full-service grooming for all breeds, but there's another service I think a lot of Spanaway dog owners need to know about:
Walk-in nail trims. No appointment. You can bring your dog in before 4:30, they take them back, handle the nail trim, and get them back out to you. Lyn even gave one of my favorite dog-parent tips of the entire conversation: let Woofers be the bad guy. 😂
They can take your dog to the back and trim the nails. When your dog comes running back out, YOU'RE standing there with the treat. Now you're the hero. That's strategy right there.
And then there's this Biscuit Buffet...
Okay Homies. We need to talk about the World's Longest Biscuit Buffet. Yes. You read that correctly. Inside Woofers is a roughly 40-foot-long treat bar with more than 30 varieties of dog treats. You can mix and match different flavors, shapes, and treats to figure out exactly what your dog likes. Lyn's husband built the Biscuit Buffet back in 2013, and it has become one of the signature parts of Woofers. So even if your dog isn't coming in for a full grooming appointment, you might want to bring them in just to experience this thing.
I'm pretty sure Domino, Korrah, and Maple would vote yes.
Dog parents: BRUSH YOUR FLUFFY DOGS
I also asked Lyn about one of the biggest mistakes pet owners make between grooming appointments. Her answer was immediate: not brushing your fluffy dog. If a dog's coat becomes severely matted, there's only so much a groomer can do. Sometimes the safest option is shaving the coat down and starting over. There's no magical grooming technique that turns a severely matted coat back into a big fluffy one. For many dogs, Lyn recommends staying on roughly a six-to-eight-week grooming schedule, depending on the breed and coat.
So, my fellow fluffy-dog parents... we've been warned.
18 years of relationships
This might have been my favorite part of the entire interview. Woofers has been serving Spanaway dog lovers for 18 years, but when Lyn talked about what she's most proud of, the conversation wasn't about grooming. It was about people.
She told me about meeting one of her best friends through the business because that customer brought her doodle into Woofers. Their friendship grew beyond the store. Their husbands became friends. Now they even attend church together.
Then she told me about a customer named Vince. When Lyn's grandson was born, Vince started leaving a dollar for his savings account every time he came into Woofers. And he kept doing it for years. Eventually, Vince's granddaughter needed a job, so she started helping babysit the kids at the store. Later, his daughter started a homeschool co-op that Lyn's grandchildren participated in.
Think about that.
It started because somebody walked into a local Spanaway business to have their dog's nails trimmed. Years later, you've got friendships between families, kids growing up together, dinners at each other's homes, and relationships that extend far beyond a transaction. THAT is what supporting local looks like.
Local businesses supporting local businesses
I also asked Lyn which other Spanaway businesses she loves. And she didn't hesitate. She shouted out Barner's Blue Dragons, where her grandchildren learn martial arts, Mary Mary's Cafe, Kelley's Kafe, Tonala Mexican Restaurant, and Northwest Appliance on Mountain Highway, who apparently deserve some serious credit for keeping the Woofers washers and dryers alive through mountains of grooming towels.
That's something I love hearing. Local businesses supporting other local businesses. Because when you spend your money locally, it has an opportunity to keep circulating locally. As Lyn put it during our conversation, when you support Woofers, you're supporting a small family business.
And that's bigger than buying a dog groom. You're supporting someone's family, employees, relationships, and community.
So, do I recommend Woofers?
Absolutely. But don't just take my word for it. That's one of the things Lyn said herself. Personal referrals are great, but she encourages people to come see Woofers for themselves. Walk through the door. Meet the family. Check out the grooming operation. Let your dog sniff around. Hit that ridiculous 40-foot Biscuit Buffet. And watch the dogs coming and going.
Lyn ended our conversation with probably the best invitation possible:
"Give us a try. You won't be sorry. We have a lot of happy customers, and we take care of a lot of happy dogs."
After our experience with Domino, Korrah, and Maple, I can officially say they've got three more happy dogs to add to that list.
This is why I Love Spanaway
Woofers is exactly the type of business I wanted to discover when I started I Love Spanaway. Yes, they groom dogs. Yes, they've got goodies. And yes, apparently, they have enough dog biscuits to stretch halfway to Tacoma.
But underneath all of that is a family that grew up here, built something here, raised kids and grandkids around it, made lifelong friends through it, supports other local businesses, and has spent 18 years taking care of Spanaway's four-legged family members.
That's a Spanaway story worth telling.
So, Homies, if you've got a fur baby who needs some love, go check out Woofers Grooming & Goodies at 16219 Pacific Ave S and tell them I Love Spanaway sent you. And while you're there... grab your dog a biscuit. Or 12. I won't judge.
Love where you live. Support where you live. I ❤️ Spanaway.
Watch the full interview
Watch my full conversation with the owner of Woofers Grooming & Goodies as we talk dogs, family, 18 years in Spanaway, the World's Longest Biscuit Buffet, supporting local businesses, and why Lyn still loves the community she grew up in. It's the video at the top of this page, and it's also on YouTube: watch it on the channel.
Know another Spanaway business with a story we need to tell? Hit me up. I Love Spanaway is just getting started.
DiNero grew up on these streets and still sells here every year. Text us what you're looking for and we will point you at the right pocket, the right price, and yes, the right dog groomer.
Text DiNero or call (253) 861-2782