Pet Names
What’s in a name? For the businesses featured here, it’s a furry, lovable best friend. From cats and dogs to goats, these area entrepreneurs loved their animals so much, they named their establishments after them. Keep reading to learn the stories about the animals behind the businesses.
RUBY'S BOOKS
Ruby’s Books (rubysfolsom.com)—a treasured independent bookstore along Historic Folsom’s Sutter Street—carries a wide variety of curated new books as well as toys and gifts. Its namesake is Ruby, an eight-year-old golden retriever. “We’ve had Ruby since she was eight weeks old,” says Stacy Gould, owner of Ruby’s Books. “When I was planning the bookstore, I was worried about leaving [her] home alone all day. When I realized she could just come to the store with me, it quickly evolved into being all about her!”
Ruby loves to play fetch, but don’t expect her to bring the ball back. “At best, she’ll bring it 10 feet in front of you and drop it expectantly,” says Stacy. “This is problematic when we throw the ball in the lake [and] the water is too cold for us; she’ll drop the ball several feet from shore and get frustrated with us for not going in to get the ball and throw it again.”
On any given day, Ruby can be found hanging out waiting for snuggles and attention from customers. “One of her best qualities is how much she truly loves making people happy, which makes her a great bookstore dog!”
DUELING DOGS BREWING CO.
When Earl and Adriana Stephens began developing their family-run Lincoln brewery, Dueling Dogs (duelingdogsbrewing.com), they knew their pups would play a major part. “Our dogs are behind everything, from the brewery’s name, logo, and apparel to the titles of popular brews,” says Adriana.
Their yellow lab, Newton, and black lab, Rocco, are the stars of the logo. Sadly, Newton passed away before the brewery opened in 2016, but he was there from the beginning of the Dueling Dogs journey and oversaw the digging of the pond, planting of the trees, and cultivation of the hops and vines. He was also the inspiration behind one of the most popular beers: Newtons Gravity.
The newest additions to the pack, Nitro, an English cream lab, and Odin, a central Asian shepard puppy, keep Rocco on his toes. Odin will soon have a role to play in the brewery legacy, as he’s the mascot for the new kitchen opening this summer.
The dogs love to swim in the brewery’s pond, roll in the dirt, and sneak sweet spent beer grains and scraps from customers. “We love our pups, and life wouldn’t be the same without them; the brewery wouldn’t be the same either.”
CHAMPY'S CATFE
Champy’s Catfe (fieldhavenmarketplace.com/champys-catfe) is no ordinary café. It’s Lincoln’s premiere destination for coffee enthusiasts and cat lovers to cozy up with adoptable felines from the nonprofit cat shelter, FieldHaven Feline Center.
The Catfe is located inside FieldHaven’s thrift store, which benefits the nonprofit and is where you can find Champy, the shelter mascot, and other adoptable felines.
In 2014, Champy, along with 60 other cats, were rescued from a hoarding situation. Sadly, Champy lost both eyes due to an infection and is now blind. “It’s hard to tell he’s even blind, as he plays like any other cat,” says Joy Smith, FieldHaven’s executive director.
“Everyone became so endeared to him that we couldn't adopt him out, so he became our shelter mascot,” says Smith. “When we opened our thrift store, we decided it would be a really great place for Champy to live full-time.” Champy lived in the thrift store for several years but came home with Joy prior to Covid and now lives with her family, along with their dog and four other cats.
“If you fall in love with one of our adoptable kitties over coffee, we’ll help with the process to make it part of your ‘furever’ home.”
GOATHOUSE BREWING CO.
GoatHouse Brewing (goathousebrewing.com) in Lincoln isn’t your average brewery. It’s where the world of goats and craft beer collide.
“GoatHouse was created as a farm-based business where hops were grown and brewing took place on-site. As a culinary school student who loved making cheese, I wanted to merge the two ideas,” says Cathy Johnson, who owns the brewery with her husband Michael. “Our original business plan included opening a small goat dairy to pair cheeses with the [farm-made] beer using all natural and sustainable processes.” The dairy never came to fruition, but having the goats as an integral part of the brewery did.
“We wanted everything to be craft made, a la ‘House,’ so ‘GoatHouse’ was the name we came up with—and the goats stayed!” says Cathy. “It’s a total farm-to-tap experience.” Currently, there are around 17 goats and a mini donkey protecting the herd. According to Cathy, they all have individual personalities and know their names. Besides eating and resting, the goats love mingling with guests and are extremely social. “They’re all so sweet and love nothing more than having their cheeks scratched by our amazing customers.”
Ruby’s Books (rubysfolsom.com)—a treasured independent bookstore along Historic Folsom’s Sutter Street—carries a wide variety of curated new books as well as toys and gifts. Its namesake is Ruby, an eight-year-old golden retriever. “We’ve had Ruby since she was eight weeks old,” says Stacy Gould, owner of Ruby’s Books. “When I was planning the bookstore, I was worried about leaving [her] home alone all day. When I realized she could just come to the store with me, it quickly evolved into being all about her!”
Rubys Books
Ruby loves to play fetch, but don’t expect her to bring the ball back. “At best, she’ll bring it 10 feet in front of you and drop it expectantly,” says Stacy. “This is problematic when we throw the ball in the lake [and] the water is too cold for us; she’ll drop the ball several feet from shore and get frustrated with us for not going in to get the ball and throw it again.”
“...When I realized she could just come to the store with me, it quickly evolved into being all about her!”
On any given day, Ruby can be found hanging out waiting for snuggles and attention from customers. “One of her best qualities is how much she truly loves making people happy, which makes her a great bookstore dog!”
DUELING DOGS BREWING CO.
When Earl and Adriana Stephens began developing their family-run Lincoln brewery, Dueling Dogs (duelingdogsbrewing.com), they knew their pups would play a major part. “Our dogs are behind everything, from the brewery’s name, logo, and apparel to the titles of popular brews,” says Adriana.
Dueling Dogs Brewing Co.
Their yellow lab, Newton, and black lab, Rocco, are the stars of the logo. Sadly, Newton passed away before the brewery opened in 2016, but he was there from the beginning of the Dueling Dogs journey and oversaw the digging of the pond, planting of the trees, and cultivation of the hops and vines. He was also the inspiration behind one of the most popular beers: Newtons Gravity.
“We love our pups, and life wouldn’t be the same without them; the brewery wouldn’t be the same either.”
The newest additions to the pack, Nitro, an English cream lab, and Odin, a central Asian shepard puppy, keep Rocco on his toes. Odin will soon have a role to play in the brewery legacy, as he’s the mascot for the new kitchen opening this summer.
The dogs love to swim in the brewery’s pond, roll in the dirt, and sneak sweet spent beer grains and scraps from customers. “We love our pups, and life wouldn’t be the same without them; the brewery wouldn’t be the same either.”
CHAMPY'S CATFE
Champy’s Catfe (fieldhavenmarketplace.com/champys-catfe) is no ordinary café. It’s Lincoln’s premiere destination for coffee enthusiasts and cat lovers to cozy up with adoptable felines from the nonprofit cat shelter, FieldHaven Feline Center.
“It’s hard to tell he’s even blind, as he plays like any other cat”
The Catfe is located inside FieldHaven’s thrift store, which benefits the nonprofit and is where you can find Champy, the shelter mascot, and other adoptable felines.
In 2014, Champy, along with 60 other cats, were rescued from a hoarding situation. Sadly, Champy lost both eyes due to an infection and is now blind. “It’s hard to tell he’s even blind, as he plays like any other cat,” says Joy Smith, FieldHaven’s executive director.
“Everyone became so endeared to him that we couldn't adopt him out, so he became our shelter mascot,” says Smith. “When we opened our thrift store, we decided it would be a really great place for Champy to live full-time.” Champy lived in the thrift store for several years but came home with Joy prior to Covid and now lives with her family, along with their dog and four other cats.
“If you fall in love with one of our adoptable kitties over coffee, we’ll help with the process to make it part of your ‘furever’ home.”
GOATHOUSE BREWING CO.
GoatHouse Brewing (goathousebrewing.com) in Lincoln isn’t your average brewery. It’s where the world of goats and craft beer collide.
Goathouse Brewing Co.
“GoatHouse was created as a farm-based business where hops were grown and brewing took place on-site. As a culinary school student who loved making cheese, I wanted to merge the two ideas,” says Cathy Johnson, who owns the brewery with her husband Michael. “Our original business plan included opening a small goat dairy to pair cheeses with the [farm-made] beer using all natural and sustainable processes.” The dairy never came to fruition, but having the goats as an integral part of the brewery did.
“Besides eating and resting, the goats love mingling with guests and are extremely social.”
“We wanted everything to be craft made, a la ‘House,’ so ‘GoatHouse’ was the name we came up with—and the goats stayed!” says Cathy. “It’s a total farm-to-tap experience.” Currently, there are around 17 goats and a mini donkey protecting the herd. According to Cathy, they all have individual personalities and know their names. Besides eating and resting, the goats love mingling with guests and are extremely social. “They’re all so sweet and love nothing more than having their cheeks scratched by our amazing customers.”
by Emily Best
Ruby's Books bottom photo by Carl Gould; top photo by Stacy Gould. Dueling Dogsphotos by Earl and Adriana Stephens. Champy's Catfe photo by Joy Smith. GoatHouse Brewing Co. photos courtesy of GoatHouse Brewing Co.