Meet The Staff

Barbara – Creative Force, Founder and Co-owner

A former Broadway actor, Barbara grew up in Durham but has lived in New York City, California, Hawaii, Florida, and – for many years now – Charlotte. You’ll find her passion for dogs, healthy eating, the US National Whitewater Center, and beach vacations contagious.

Meredith – Co-owner and Retail/Marketing Specialist

Inspired by Barbara’s passion and impressive product line that was sold both in Barbara’s small Café and in places like Whole Foods, Meredith joined forces with Barbara around 2004 to help build Canine Café Charlotte. Meredith brought years of PR and marketing experience, as well as a shared love of dogs and healthy living. Meredith loves writing, community service, coastal Carolinas, and hikes with the dog.

Beth – Retail manager since 2006

A longtime Labrador Retriever enthusiast, Beth is naturally an expert in fun, rugged dog toys and chews! She loves her family, including her sweet senior Chocolate Lab, Lucy, and her easy-going Lab-Golden, Gunner, who works alongside her in the shop. She enjoys running, hiking and other outdoor adventures – especially in the North Carolina mountains or at the US National Whitewater Center — with her hubby and dog.

Anthony – Retail Specialist

Anthony is a proud dad to a new baby girl and to Leon the German Shepherd. Anthony’s kind, calm personality makes him a wonderful host to our canine guests and their owners. Anthony and his wife have been customers and fans for several years, so we are happy to have another great dog lover on board! 

Gunner and Idgie – Welcoming Committee, Crumb Clean-up Crew

Fellow yellow dogs and Lucky Lab Rescue alums, Gunner Bunner and Idgie Threadgoode are alternately enthusiastic and lazy, hungry and apathetic, loyal and distracted. Whatever you think of them, there’s no denying that they are quite the mix … of what, we’re not sure. But, whatever they are, we hope they make the Canine Café experience a bit more enjoyable for your family, especially your canine companions.