Wilmington Works Like a Dog: The Small Business Owners of the Cargo District Courtyard

If you've spent any time in the Cargo District, you've probably wandered past Shark Bite Jewelry, Luminous Boutique, or Threads by Sydney. What you might not know is that behind each of those businesses is an owner with a really great dog and a story worth hearing.

This is part of our ongoing Wilmington Works Like a Dog series on instagram, where we sit down with local professionals and the pets who share their lives. This one felt like a natural fit to do as a roundup, because while these three women run their own shops, they have more in common than just their zip code.

Carly & Kobe // Luminous Boutique

Carly runs Luminous Boutique, where she outfits women for life's special moments. She talks about clothing the way a lot of pet owners talk about their animals: as something that can genuinely change how a person feels about themselves.

Her lab mix Kobe, four years old, came into her life after being rescued from being dropped out of a car. He is now, by all accounts, living his absolute best life.

Carly calls him her soul dog and her grounding presence, and during our session that tracked completely. Kobe was full of energy and excitement from the moment we started, ready to explore everything and meet everyone. The kind of dog who reminds you that enthusiasm is always the right approach.

Sarah & Buoy // Shark Bite Jewelry

Sarah creates jewelry for life's meaningful moments, and she'll be the first to tell you that Buoy, her two year old golden retriever, comes to work with her every single day. That alone tells you everything you need to know about him.

"I know everyone says this about their dog," she told us, "but Buoy truly is the goodest boy."

From everything we saw during our session, she's not wrong. Buoy didn't know a stranger. He greeted everyone he came across like they were his favorite person, which, to be fair, they probably were in that moment. Sarah describes him as someone who makes her want to be more loving and more present, and watching him work a room, it's hard to argue with that.

Anna & Sami // Threads by Sydney

Anna owns Threads by Sydney, a vintage clothing shop dedicated to helping people live more sustainably without sacrificing style.

Sami, a three and a half year old Sheltie, came into Anna's life at a moment when she wasn't even looking for a pet. "She needed a mom and I couldn't pass her up," Anna said. Now Sami goes everywhere with her, including, apparently, straight to the vintage racks.

Sami was the most reserved of our three during the session, taking her time to warm up and assess the situation. But the moment the treats came out, she was locked in.

If you haven't visited these shops yet, they're all worth a stop. And if you happen to run into Buoy, Kobe, or Sami while you're there, give them a pat from me.

Follow along with this series on Instagram!