For Bobbi Brown, dogs have always been part of the family.
In Montclair, NJ, sits a luxury hotel called The George, owned by none other than makeup icon Bobbi Brown. The walls are adorned with images of famous Georges: George Washington, George Foreman, George Harrison, George Clooney…and of course, George Costanza.
At first glance, The George resembles any high-end boutique hotel. But look closer, and you’ll see signs of Brown’s true passion: There’s a dog bed in the corner of the hotel’s lounge, and each room has yet another dog bed — and doggy treats. With many hotels limiting four-legged guests to a certain weight or banning them altogether, The George is a pet-owner’s paradise. It’s fitting that this pup paradise sits in Montclair, which was certified as a pet-friendly city last year by Mars Petcare’s BETTER CITIES FOR PETS™ program, which helps cities welcome pets into more places.
When Brown and her husband decided to open a boutique hotel in their hometown, they wanted all dogs (and their owners) to feel welcome. “I’ve always been a dog person,” says Brown. “I bring my dogs with me everywhere, and I’ve had dogs my whole life.” Brown currently has two pups, and when her kids stay with her, they each bring their own rescued pets. “I have to use sticky notes to remember whose bowl is whose,” admits Brown.
Accompanying Brown today is her son’s dog Parker, whom he and Brown’s daughter-in-law adopted during the pandemic. While at times Parker is reluctant to follow Brown’s instructions (Brown is his grandma after all, so Parker knows she’ll let him get away with a bit more than his parents might), he obediently follows her instructions to sit when she offers him a GREENIES Dental Treat — a favorite from the Mars family of pet care brands.
At The George, there’s usually at least one guest arriving with a dog each week. “It makes it feel more like home,” says hotel employee Ariana. (And for safety and in consideration of those who aren’t dog people, The George asks that four-legged guests stay on leash when out of their rooms.)
The George isn’t Brown’s only dog-friendly business venture. At the Montclair headquarters of Jones Road, Brown’s makeup empire, employees are encouraged to bring their pups to work. That was a wise move: As employees got used to working from home during the pandemic, the sudden shift back to the office made many of them reluctant to leave their four-legged friends at home. While there are myriad reasons why an office environment is better for employee collaboration, allowing dogs to join in makes the experience even better — according to a survey from Mars brand, CESAR Canine Cuisine, 93 percent of dog owners say that bringing their dog to work improves their attitudes about going into the office, and 94 percent say it increases happiness at work.
At Jones Road, Brown ensures the cabinets are always stocked with snacks for everyone — both humans and animals. It’s no wonder employees are loyal to Brown’s businesses: As her many ventures continue to grow and thrive, it seems like Brown is well on her way to world dogination.
