A newly formed business, Rover Pet Stores Inc., is making waves in Daytona Beach with its proposal to open a live pet retail store inside Volusia Mall—an initiative that has ignited a zoning debate and drawn attention from both city officials and local residents.
The store, envisioned as a vibrant hub for small and exotic pet lovers, plans to feature live animals including hamsters, guinea pigs, and mice, with future additions of reptiles such as geckos and snakes. Alongside the animals, Rover Pet Stores Inc. intends to offer a wide array of food, habitats, and accessories tailored to exotic pet care.
However, the path to opening has hit a bureaucratic snag. According to the business’s representatives, they were informed by an unnamed source that live animals are not permitted within the mall—a claim that has halted their licensing application with the City of Daytona Beach.
Melissa McAdams, property manager with CBL Properties, which oversees Volusia Mall, has challenged that assertion. She cited the mall’s previous role as the home of Halifax Urban Ministries’ animal rescue, which operated with live animals on-site for adoption. “There is precedent for live animals being part of a business here,” McAdams stated, noting that the rescue operated without issue for years.
The mall is zoned under B-4 General Commercial, a designation that, according to Daytona Beach’s zoning code, permits “a wide range of goods and services.” Rover Pet Stores Inc. argues that this language does not explicitly prohibit the sale or housing of live animals, and therefore their business model should be allowed under current zoning regulations.
In a formal letter to the City Clerk, the company requested clarification and urged the city to issue a business license. The letter also warned of potential legal action should the city deny the license without clear justification. “We are committed to compliance and transparency,” the letter reads, “but we must also protect our right to operate within the bounds of the law.”
City officials have yet to respond publicly, but the issue has sparked broader conversations about how zoning codes are interpreted in mixed-use commercial spaces like shopping malls. Legal experts note that while zoning language may be broad, enforcement often hinges on precedent and administrative discretion.
Meanwhile, local residents and mall patrons have begun weighing in. Some welcome the idea of a pet store that offers live animals, citing convenience and educational value for families. Others raise concerns about animal welfare and the suitability of housing pets in a high-traffic retail environment.
As Rover Pet Stores Inc. awaits a decision, the case is becoming a litmus test for how Daytona Beach balances entrepreneurial innovation with regulatory oversight. Whether the store opens its doors or remains a concept on paper may depend on how city officials interpret a few lines of zoning code—and how willing they are to embrace a new chapter in Volusia Mall’s commercial evolution.
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