Local Spotlight: BARK's Jamee Yocum

Tell us a little about yourself and how long you have lived in Jacksonville?

Needless to say I'm an extreme dog lover, I've been in Jacksonville for a decade and have lived in Riverside, Downtown, San Marco and have recently purchased a home in Springfield. I love attending community events, concerts, gardening and dining at some of Jacksonville's amazing restaurants.

What inspired you to start your own business and why did you choose a doggie boutique?

I've always had a dream of owning my own business. I worked at a Dog Boutique during high school in South Florida and LOVED it! I've always been a huge supporter of local business, and couldn't be more proud that I'm part of that community.  

Why did you choose your location in 5 Points and your second location in downtown Jax?

When I opened Bark years ago, Riverside was an up and coming neighborhood and I knew 5-points had great potential, plus lots of dogs!  I knew then, I had to jump at the opportunity to open a store. I see the exact same potential in Downtown, Jacksonville.

What are some services BARK in 5 Points offer and your downtown location? 

Bark in 5-Points specializes in Grooming, Boarding, Daycare and Training. We also have a boutique filled with high quality products, organic food, home made treats and birthday cakes!

Bark Downtown is a dog retail boutique dedicated to the downtown working and living community. This location is designed for a quick grab and go, dog food pickup. We also offer dog food delivery and dog walking to the Downtown and Riverside residents.

What is your favorite part of being in business for yourself and your favorite part of BARK?

In all honestly, my favorite part of being in business for myself is being able to run a business the way I believe it should be ran. It's fun to experiment with new and creative ideas. For almost a decade, I've met some amazing people and have made some great friends by owning this business. My customers mean the world to me. My favorite part of Bark is easy, the dogs!