{"id":1423,"date":"2017-05-10T19:25:30","date_gmt":"2017-05-10T19:25:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lbpost.com\/articles\/life\/pets\/chow-down-pj-s-pet-cafe-reopens-in-east-lb\/"},"modified":"2017-05-10T19:25:30","modified_gmt":"2017-05-10T19:25:30","slug":"chow-down-pj-s-pet-cafe-reopens-in-east-lb","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/hi-lo\/pets\/chow-down-pj-s-pet-cafe-reopens-in-east-lb","title":{"rendered":"Chow Down! PJ’s Pet Cafe Reopens in East Long Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

She\u2019s passionate, compassionate, wise and outspoken\u2014and boy, can she cook! Just not for you.<\/p>\n

Like any good old-world mamma, Rossana Estravides stuffs her family\u2019s hungry tummies with tasty, nutritious hot meals. Most of her family members, though, are her dogs and the ones belonging to the clients of her homespun business, PJ\u2019s Pet Caf\u00e9, named for Estravides\u2019s beloved dog.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy friend Rossana is a humble woman who loves our fur babies as much as we do,\u201d said Mark Magdaleno, former field deputy for Councilmember Suja Lowenthal. \u201cShe loves her job\u2014she cries when she talks about her job. She cares about her clients\u2019 pets. I\u2019m so proud of her\u2014she works so hard.\u201d Magdaleno\u2019s little blind dog, Vinnie Valentino, is a longtime PJ\u2019s client.<\/p>\n

Estravides likely worked the hardest she can remember doing during last year, when it was necessary for her to relocate her little restaurant, located on the corner of Broadway and Linden Avenue. (See \u201cThe Dog\u2019s Dinner\u201d<\/a>\u00a0for photos and a story of PJ\u2019s at around the time when it first opened.)<\/p>\n

\"PJs\"<\/p>\n

PJ’s original location in downtown Long Beach. Photos by Kate Karp.<\/em><\/p>\n

The building that PJ\u2019s had occupied for seven years had been sold, and she closed her business in November. She found herself faced with the formidable task of finding a place that would accept both the dog kitchen and the day care.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019d find a place, we\u2019d call, and it would be, oh, sorry, for dogs, no. For dogs, no,\u201d she said. \u201cThe stress is, the permit laws of the city have changed so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

But if dogs are man\u2019s (and woman\u2019s) best friend, then Magdaleno and a few of his contacts are best friends to dogs, and to Estravides. Alejandra Garcia, who works for the city\u2019s Planning and Building Department and had been helpful to Magdaleno in the past, came up with a perfect location for PJ\u2019s, on Seventh Street at Redondo Avenue. It\u2019s immediately identifiable by the bone-shaped bike rack in front.<\/p>\n

\"Storefront\"<\/strong><\/p>\n

PJ’s new location at 3412 East Second Street.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cWe wanted to keep her in business, and the city listened,\u201d Magdaleno said. \u201cShe\u2019s going to be an asset to the neighborhood, and she doesn\u2019t know it! She cares\u2014she\u2019ll call about trash, anything that\u2019s wrong.\u201d<\/p>\n

Estravides thanked the individuals and city departments who helped her with her project as well as her steady clients and their human companions in a grand-opening celebration on April 22.<\/p>\n

\"Communications<\/p>\n

From left: Lisa West, Third Council District\u2019s Communications Director; Magdaleno; and Estravides\u2019s sister, Fiorella Rios enjoy PJ\u2019s Grand Opening Festivities. West handled the business relations for the new PJ\u2019s. <\/i><\/p>\n

The move did tug at Estravides\u2019s heartstrings because, as she said, \u201cit was the beginning.\u201d But PJ\u2019s new location has three times the space that the former one had and affords expansion of merchandise, kitchen and concepts. Fiorella Rios, Estravides\u2019s\u2019 \u201cbaby sister,\u201d designed and painted the entire space\u2014murals, showcases, wall hangings, signage and down to the last piece of wrought iron at the counter.<\/p>\n

\"wall<\/p>\n

Fiorella’s designs grace the entire venue. The dogs may sniff past the atmosphere to PJ’s other pleasures, but the human clients appreciate it.<\/em><\/p>\n

The \u201chotel\u201d area is the primo eye catcher and is the site for PJ\u2019s day-care section. It\u2019s designed to look like a little cosmopolitan boutique inn and is a good place for dogs who would otherwise mope at home or bark and drive the neighbors nuts. There are a couple of private rooms for dogs who don\u2019t play well with others and a special room for cats.<\/p>\n

\"Hotel\"<\/p>\n

Private rooms are available, with bath, of course, for cats.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0\u201cIt has to be special because cats are very different,\u201d Estravides said. (No kiddin\u2019!) \u201cThere have been requests from previous customers that we take cats, particularly if they\u2019re having their houses fumigated. They\u2019d have to miss a day of work otherwise because they have a cat!\u201d<\/p>\n

Because of the delicate and fussy nature of many cats, their humans are obliged to place them into the condos themselves and to retrieve them.<\/p>\n

\"DAy<\/p>\n

There are beds to fit the bodies of every dog who attends day care. Many of PJ\u2019s clients are rescues, and they never had it so good\u2014except at home, of course.<\/i><\/p>\n

Pet owners also must bring their pets\u2019 own diet so that there won\u2019t be any stomach or appetite issues for them. The day-care service charge covers everything, including any medications that the pets need to take.<\/p>\n

\u201cI never charge extra for the medicines\u2014I just cannot,\u201d Estravides said.<\/p>\n

Speaking of diet, the way to a dog\u2019s heart may not be entirely through the stomach, but they sure appreciate food made with love and themselves in mind. Estravides\u2019s cakes look a lot like bakery items that people slaver over, but they\u2019re made using only pumpkin, molasses, peanut butter and other things that are good for dogs.<\/p>\n

\"cakes<\/p>\n

PJ’s cakes are as delicious to doggies as they are decorative.<\/em><\/p>\n

Main dishes include names like Sunshine\u2019s Bacon Treats, Bella\u2019s Turkey Pie and Sasha\u2019s Coca Loca Cookies. Each menu item is named for a client or one of her own dogs; Peanut\u2019s Veggie Chicken Cheese is named for Estravides\u2019s little dog, and of course, there are two dishes named for PJ.<\/p>\n

\"Menu\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0Full menu at PJ’s. Every item is a specialty of the doghouse.<\/em><\/p>\n

Dogs can treat themselves to Estravides\u2019s home cooking in the comfort of the atmospheric Peanut Lounge, which has been extended from the small caf\u00e9 at the former location to an actual restaurant for dogs. Well-behaved human customers can purchase coffee and cold drinks and spend quality time with their canine buddies, and if the dogs are willing to share, I can tell you from experience that the food tastes good to people. Former Scratching Post co-writer Judy Crumpton\u2019s dog is as fussy as a cat, and he devoured a sweet-potato dish as if it were your favorite leather pumps. We tried it, too, and it was damn tasty.<\/p>\n

\"PEanuts<\/p>\n

Dogs can have a lunch date with their people and other dogs at the Peanut Lounge.<\/em><\/p>\n

There\u2019s a wall full of shelves and hangers stocked with purchasable quality goods such as dog leashes, collars, clothing, cat and dog toys, pet bowls, accessories and personalized items.<\/p>\n

Estravides\u2019s day care continues to grow in popularity and has also grown her business, which has settled nicely into its new home. She relies on word-of-mouth and old-fashioned snail mail instead of social media and fliers to popularize her business\u2014\u201cWe need to continue to be humans. The machines don\u2019t need to replace our brains here!\u201d\u2014and her clients\u2019 recommendations work the best.<\/p>\n

But the heart of PJ\u2019s resides in Estravides\u2019s\u2019 own old-school heart and genuine love of dogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, it\u2019s a business, but to do it right, I have to understand the dogs,\u201d she said. \u201cThe eyes of dogs speak to me. When I look into a dog\u2019s eyes, I\u2019m moved most profoundly. I know when my dogs are sick, when they have problems, when they don\u2019t feel good, when their owner is having problems. These animals are our companions, our families, our best friends and therapists.\u201d<\/p>\n

PJ\u2019s Pet Cafe\u2019s new location is at 3412 East 7th Street at the corner of Redondo Avenue. Hours are 7:00AM\u20137:00PM Monday through Saturday. To make birthday party reservations, a day-care appointment or an order for a special dish, call (562) 386-2348. Stop in for a caf\u00e9 morning or afternoon. Don\u2019t miss the Labrador Lasagna.<\/i><\/p>\n

\"PJs<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/i><\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cIf you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. It is the principal difference between a dog and a man.\u201d
<\/i>~ Mark Twain<\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Like any good old-world mamma, Rossana Estravides stuffs her family\u2019s hungry tummies with tasty, nutritious hot meals. Most of her family members, though, are her dogs and the ones belonging to the clients of her homespun business, PJ\u2019s Pet Caf\u00e9.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":66838,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","inline_featured_image":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":"","_EventAllDay":false,"_EventTimezone":"","_EventStartDate":"","_EventEndDate":"","_EventStartDateUTC":"","_EventEndDateUTC":"","_EventShowMap":false,"_EventShowMapLink":false,"_EventURL":"","_EventCost":"","_EventCostDescription":"","_EventCurrencySymbol":"","_EventCurrencyCode":"","_EventCurrencyPosition":"","_EventDateTimeSeparator":"","_EventTimeRangeSeparator":"","_EventOrganizerID":[],"_EventVenueID":[],"_OrganizerEmail":"","_OrganizerPhone":"","_OrganizerWebsite":"","_VenueAddress":"","_VenueCity":"","_VenueCountry":"","_VenueProvince":"","_VenueState":"","_VenueZip":"","_VenuePhone":"","_VenueURL":"","_VenueStateProvince":"","_VenueLat":"","_VenueLng":"","_VenueShowMap":false,"_VenueShowMapLink":false,"_":"","_author_alias":"","cap-aim":"","cap-description":"","cap-display_name":"","cap-first_name":"","cap-jabber":"","cap-last_name":"","cap-linked_account":"","cap-newspack_employer":"","cap-newspack_job_title":"","cap-newspack_phone_number":"","cap-newspack_role":"","cap-user_email":"","cap-user_login":"","cap-website":"","cap-yahooim":"","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_email_html":"","newspack_email_type":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_hide_page_title":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_show_share_buttons":"","newspack_sponsor_byline_prefix":"","newspack_sponsor_disclaimer_override":"","newspack_sponsor_flag_override":"","newspack_sponsor_only_direct":"","newspack_sponsor_url":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[68],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[],"class_list":["post-1423","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-pets","tag-the-scratching-post","entry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1423","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1423"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1423\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1423"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1423"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1423"},{"taxonomy":"newspack_spnsrs_tax","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/newspack_spnsrs_tax?post=1423"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lbpost.com\/esd\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=1423"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}