NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST 'GREEN' PET BOUTIQUE OPENS IN QUEENS, AT THE SHOPS AT ATLAS PARK

Glendale, NY, Oct 17, 2007 - /FLIERWIRE/-- Crazy For Animals 1,000 Square Foot Boutique Features Eco-Friendly Construction, Organic Products, Delicious Home-Made Cannolis and In-Door Dog Run

Architect: Justin Pobrob, Simplex Studio

New York City has welcomed its first 'green' pet boutique at The Shops at Atlas Park. Crazy For Animals, a family-owned and operated boutique specializing in upscale pet accessories, recently opened in a newly constructed eco-friendly retail space at Atlas Park.

"This is the first we have heard of a 'green' pet boutique in New York City," says Lauren Hildebrand, program coordinator of the New York City chapter of the US Green Building Council. "It will hopefully become something we see more of in the future."

Together with designer Justin Pogrob, founder of Simplex Studio in Manhattan, Crazy for Animals has created a truly sustainable pet oasis: "We have bamboo floors, hand waxed cabinets, and energy efficient lighting, as well as a full line of holistic food and spa products for pets," says owner Joan Stack, who lives in Middle Village with her family and multiple dogs, as well as a rotating mix of dogs she fosters until their permanent homes are ready. In addition to the store itself and the products for sale, Crazy For Animals uses business cards and shopping bags made from recycled paper - and staff wear polo shirts made from a new fiber derived from corn.

"Virtually all of the products used in this build-out were environmentally friendly," says Pogrob. "All of the millwork that we designed, fabricated by Best Value Construction, utilized sustainable materials and methods. For example we used urea-formaldehyde-free plywood with little to no VOC emissions for the sub floor and millwork instead of traditional plywood.

The adhesive used in the bonding of traditional plywood emits gasses that have adverse affects on the heath of people and the environment." Crazy for Animals is going for silver-level LEED certification.

The store was designed using warm, earthy, accents colors and materials, which blend seamlessly with the modern architecture that organizes an irregularly shaped space while demonstrating the
environmentally friendly concept.

The new store has innovative features including a sitting area where owners and their dogs can try on some of the many canine fashions such as clothing by Cloak and Dawgie, Doggie Design, K9 Duds, Fairytail Couture and Ed Hardy.

Other unique products offered include carriers, spa products, designer collars, toys and even baked goods - Park Slope's Buttercup Pawtisserie supplies the shop with the freshest, most nutritious cakes, cookies and cannolis for your furry companion.

Crazy for Animals is fun for dogs, too: There is an in-store dog run measuring 14' x 3' which features artificial grass surrounded by a modern interpretation of a white picket fence.

A partnership with pet adoption center Bobbi and The Strays - their neighbor at Atlas Park - makes Crazy for Animals an even more special addition to the lifestyle center. "We work with owner and founder Bobbi Giordano in encouraging rescue," says Stack, who along with other family members personally helps out in the evenings by walking and feeding the dogs. "We offer a 30% discount on your entire first order if you adopt an animal."

About The Shops at Atlas Park
(www.TheShopsatAtlasPark.com):
Located at 8000 Cooper Avenue, at the intersection of 80th Street, The Shops at Atlas Park offers an exciting mix of Men's, Women's and Children's Apparel, jewelry, shoes, fashion accessories, house wares, Gourmet Foods and a variety of harming cafes, bistros and restaurants.

Now open: Aerosoles, Art World, Bombay, Chico's, Claire's, Coldwater Creek, Crazy for Animals, Florsheim, Gymboree, J. Jill, The Fair, Jos.A. Bank, Laila Rowe, Marmi, SteinMart, Stella Gialla, White House Black Market, Regal Cinemas, Borders Books & Music, Blue Tulip, Dahlia, New York Sports Club, Wireless Collections, Amish Market, Manor Oktoberfest, Johnny Rockets, Starbucks, Shiro of Japan, Pasticcio, California Pizza Kitchen, Cold Stone Creamery and Orange. Future stores and restaurants at The Shops at Atlas Park include: Chopin Chemists, Chili's Bar & Grill, and Floris Day Spa and Nails.

The Shops at Atlas Park sits on a 12-acre tract of land, with The Green, which serves as its "town center" in the middle. It is surrounded by a unified architectural statement of white-washed
buildings that encircle the magnificent green space, designed to create a casual, refreshing meeting place in the midst of a densely inhabited urban environment.

The Shops at Atlas Park also has two other outdoor public spaces and a 1,000-square-foot café pavilion. Altogether, it consists of eight buildings housing retail shopping and office space.

A& Co., LLC serves as the development manager and design architect on behalf of the owner, Atco Properties & Management

About Atco Properties & Management Atco Properties & Management, a New York-based, full service, family owned real estate organization, is developing this retail project on the Atlas Terminals site, a property owned by The Hemmerdinger Family for more than 85 years.

Founded in 1922, the organization owns and manages commercial, industrial and residential properties and provides a broad range of professional real estate services, including tenant representation, consulting, management, construction, and investment.

About Simplex Studio
Simplex Studio is a multidisciplinary design firm specializing in retail, commercial, medical facilities, and high-end residential architecture. In addition to architecture, Simplex Studio designs web sites, printed marketing materials, logos, products, and packaging.

Simplex Studio does not stop once the design is complete. The company does their working drawings in house and provides full construction
management services. Each project is approached on an individual basis and concepts are tailored to meet the needs of the business, way of life, or target market niche.