6 minute read
BOSLEY'S STEVESTON VILLAGE
Bosley’s Steveston Village stands out as a must-visit pet store, thanks to its unbeatable location on Steveston’s boardwalk—a busy route for dog walkers—with a beautiful, frontrow view of the Fraser River. Mid-walk, pet owners are often pulled inside by their eager companions. Dogs’ powerful sniffers go into overdrive, knowing that owner and manager Jai Chera and his team are always happy to hand out a free treat to both dogs and cats. “Some come in daily!” says Jai with a laugh.
Jai became Bosley’s Steveston Village’s new owner in August 2024, with the support of his father Rakesh Chera, who remains a behindthe-scenes partner. For the past 23 years, the Chera family has operated Best Quality Sweet and Restaurant on Main Street in Vancouver, where Jai played a key role in managing and assisting with technology.
When the time came for him to take his own path, his father’s advice was for Jai to find his niche.
Jai attended a franchise convention where he met with many companies but felt an immediate connection with Bosley’s. He appreciated that Bosley’s does charity work and gives back to shelters across Canada.
With memories of family walks along the Steveston boardwalk, he knew this was the right place to build something meaningful. For Jai, Bosley’s is more than a store; it’s a way to build community and bring people and pets together, and to feel part of something local and lasting. He adds, “The location is great, it all clicked when I saw this opportunity.”
Pet store ownership runs in the family. Jai’s uncle in Toronto owns a Pet Valu, and another uncle owns Bosley’s River District location in Vancouver.
A lifelong animal lover, Jai grew up surrounded by pets, including a Golden Retriever, budgies, fish, and bunnies. He and his fiancée recently welcomed a mini-Aussie Bernedoodle puppy named Sheru, which means “little lion” in Punjabi.
We go the extra mile to help our customers.
Getting to know dogs, occasional cats, and their owners is one of the highlights of the business. Jai and his staff always offer a friendly welcome, accompanied by an invitation to assist if needed. He is highly appreciative of his assistant manager, Sarah, and his six other hard-working team members. They make a point of following up with customers to hear how their pets are enjoying food and other products. As a personal touch, Jai even makes local home deliveries, another example of his community-minded approach.
When tariffs affected products, they created a dedicated section in the store to spotlight Canadian-made products. While some clients were loyal to U.S.-made products, others discovered excellent local alternatives.
One of those is Wild Vibes, a Steveston-based business with a mission to handcraft the highest-quality food and treats. Their salmon belly, beef liver and bone broth, and chicken heart and bone broth are irresistible to both dogs and cats.
Another customer favourite is Tilted Barn, a Canadian company that produces 100% Canadian-made treats in a decadent range of flavours, including bison, Canadian bacon, beef and Saskatoon berry.
Top-selling food brands include Acana, Orijen, and Bosley’s own Performatrin Ultra and Performatrin Prime. Jai notes that prices on Performatrin have recently been rolled back, making them an even better value. Bosley’s also stocks a wide selection of raw food, including Red Dog Blue Kat, Big Country Raw, and Performatrin Culinary.
If you don’t find the product you are looking for, Jai will be happy to place a special order.
During the summer months, you’ll find cooling hats and vests, swimming pools, and bandanas. As Halloween and Christmas approach, Bosley’s is always an exciting place to visit. Halloween brings costumes, sweaters and treats, while the holiday season brings out sweaters, onesies and toys galore to spoil your baby.
The store also offers a range of essentials for other popular pets, including rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters, fish, and birds.
Bosley’s self-serve dog wash stations have everything you need to get your pet clean and smelling fresh. Shampoo, aprons, towels, and even a professional-grade high-velocity dryer are all provided. Each washing station is elevated for your comfort, and easy-access steps allow your dog to walk right into the tub. According to Jai, even dogs weighing up to 150 pounds fit comfortably inside.
Bosley’s offers a Senior’s Day on the last Thursday of every month, when all seniors receive 10% off. Jai says, “I usually bring in samosas, coffee, Timbits, and sometimes cold refreshments as well. These are for everyone who comes in that day as a thank you to the community.”
In June, Bosley’s celebrated Pet Appreciation Month by partnering with RAPS and successfully raising $2,500 to support local animals. The store regularly hosts cat adoption events, offering monthly in-store three-hour meetand-greets. They also support the SPCA and contribute to RAPS initiatives that help care for the pets of people experiencing homelessness in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
Community involvement doesn’t stop there. Bosley’s participates in local events, such as the Steveston Holiday Dog Parade, where they hand out donations, toys, and plenty of treats and bones. During the Salmon Festival Parade, the store set up a water station outside. Treats, toys, and goodie bags were shared, making it a memorable day for pets and their owners.
It comes back to his father’s words of wisdom: Jai found his niche and honed in on his passion. He’s helping take care of animals while doing something he loves, connecting with the community and building personal relationships with Bosley’s customers.
Jai is at the shop six days a week and invites you to come in and experience Bosley’s. If you're lucky, you might even get to meet Sheru!
Bosleys Steveston Village
4180 Bayview Street Richmond BC V7E 0B3
Phone 604-227-2233
Article by Sarah Gordon (August 2025) @PallaMedia
