Skiptown’s first franchisees secure lease in Charlotte

Skiptown, a tech-enabled dog care franchise, Tuesday announced that its first franchisee group has signed a lease that will bring the brand to the Pineville section of Charlotte, North Carolina. Co-owners Chris Tkatch and Bo Fender expect that their initial location will open in early 2027, with a second planned location to follow.

“It’s exciting to see our first franchise owners sign their first lease and take this next step toward their opening,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Skiptown. “It’s been a strong year for our brand, and we’re looking forward to keeping that momentum going as Chris and Bo bring Skiptown to Pineville.”

First franchisees Tkatch and Fender know the Skiptown brand well, as both were members before Skiptown even started franchising. Tkatch brings a strong foundation in business and finance to the table, while Fender’s background has primarily been in civil engineering. One thing that brought the two together was their love of dogs.

“As a Skiptown member since 2020, I saw firsthand what made the experience different, from how genuinely excited the team was to see your dog to the passion behind the brand,” said Fender. “Going from a longtime customer to helping grow Skiptown in the city where it all started is incredibly meaningful. We believed in what the brand was building long before we ever considered becoming franchisees, and now we have the opportunity to be part of its next chapter in Charlotte.”

Skiptown was founded by Meggie Williams as The Waggle Co. in 2016 and first began franchising in the fall of 2025. The brand has disrupted the paradigm of traditional dog boarding with a focus on pet happiness and providing a modern, tech-enabled experience for pet owners. Each dog staying at Skiptown receives personalized care in an indoor/outdoor setting that creates space for both pets and people to socialize and have a great time.

“Dogs are such an important part of our families, and we want every person who trusts us with their pup to feel confident they’re in good hands,” said franchisee Chris Tkatch. “For us, bringing Skiptown to more of Charlotte is about creating a place where dogs are genuinely cared for and their parents feel just as welcomed.”

As Chris and Bo prepare to open their first franchise location, Skiptown is seeking to connect with additional prospective franchisees across the United States.