NORTH SMITHFIELD – You could say the family is taking the lemons life gave them and making lemonade. Or, perhaps a bit more accurately, taking their now illegal flavored vape juice and turning it into chinchillas, bearded dragons and snakes.
Clumsy metaphors aside, Pets R Family is now open in North Smithfield, marking the return of the “mom and pop,” pet shop to a town that seems ready to welcome it.

Situated just beside North Smithfield Animal Hospital across from Slatersville Plaza at 921 Victory Highway, the store held a soft opening on Friday, Jan. 10, and shelves of the space that once held Lifespan Laboratories are now stocked with everything from cat toys and gerbil feeders, to bunnies and exotic reptiles.
The business is owned by Brandon Sylvester of Burrillville, the son of the owner of the neighboring Juice Box Vape Shop – which is soon likely to close its doors. Rhode Island lawmakers passed a bill banning the sale of flavored vape juice last summer, a product critical to the shop’s business model. The law took effect on January 1, and proprietor Jesse Killeen has watched his sales taper off.
“It’s kind of pushed our business out,” said Killeen. “It really, really put a burden on us.”
Still, he says, “Sometimes, bad things happen for a good reason.”
And so, Killeen has turned his attention to his lifelong love of animals, working with his son to launch a new endeavor.
The family is still at work bringing in products – and pets – to fill the space, and taking feedback from customers on items they’d like to see in the store.
“We’re seeing what people are looking for and what they like,” said Killeen. “We can’t cater to everyone, obviously.”
“Right now, we’re just kind of testing the waters,” added Sylvester. “We have boatload of reptiles.”
They plan to have their new fish room up and running within a week – a large space featuring dozens of tanks including one that holds 600 gallons of water – and the store plans to carry bait in the summer. A small animal room is now being readied for incoming batches of birds, chinchillas and hedgehogs.
And, if all goes well and the space is needed, expansion will continue into the former vape shop.
“One of my main focuses is cleanliness,” said Sylvester.
A self proclaimed “dog guy,” the 28-year-old store owner says he grew up with all types of animals – and that dad will be a big help.
“When I was little, he would bring me to the pet store and I was fascinated by so many things,” Sylvester said.
Killeen, on the other hand, has owned it all – starting with a fish tank in his bedroom in the sixth grade. From rare reptile species to pure bred dogs, the lifelong pet hobbyist says he’s built a long list of contacts in the industry over the years.
As a result, the store will be dealing with local breeders and reputable companies to bring in healthy animals, and will be able to tell customers exactly where the pets came from. The father and son team says their prices are also much more affordable than large, corporate stores.
With the closure of Creatures just down the road last year, they will be filling a gap in the local market as the only independent pet shop in the region. Killeen notes that he often brought his own pets to work at the neighboring shop, and customers would frequently ask where he got his supplies.
“I like to see it as bringing back the traditional pet store,” said Sylvester. “A lot of people are really happy there’s a pet shop back in town.”
Pets R Family at 921 Victory Highway will be open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with hours subject to change in the future depending on demand.
Awesome always needing things for my Redfoot Tortoise and looking for another. Also always needing dog supplies for my micro bully. Can’t wait to check this out
This is great news! I wish you all the success life has to offer! It’s nice to see the mom and pop family business coming back around! Some friendly advice beware of Dr. Scott Marshall, he does not like pet stores and his goal is to close them all down! He will pretend to be your best friend all the while he devising a plan to put you out of business! That being said, make sure your place is clean and tidy at all times, all paperwork is in order! He is famous for claiming he received an anonymous complaint and has to follow up, which allows him to pop in at Will! He is a two faced coward!
So BEWARE!
Truly best wishes!
Amanda
When do they open?
Yay!!! It’ll be a great success! You’re a sweet family! Can’t wait to come back and see it! It’ls so nice knowing theres a shop to go to where the owner and staff take the time to get to know you and your pet and actually care!
Congratulations guys, I will be seeing you soon to check out the new store.
Jesse, Donna and Brandon are all amazing people. I consider them family and I’m so glad to see them moving in this direction!
I am so happy to have a place to get feeders for all my reptiles!!
Please let me know, if you have someone available to clip wings on an Amazon parrot. She needs a ‘pedicure’, too!
I have 2 snakes 2 hedgehogs 3 giant Oscars and a cat can’t wait to get there and get the things I need instead of driving all the way to Pawtucket every couple days now it’s just up the road will be there in a day or two myself I’m excited and glad I have someware local to get the things I need when I need them
Best of luck good family♥️
Congratulations!!!
I’m so happy for you guys (my nephew and brother-in-law) and wishing you much success and all the best in your new business venture!! Congratulations!!
Glad to see a Pet Shop open back up close to home! Good Luck!