05/02/2025
Best Pets is going through a lot of exciting changes this year!
Steve, the previous owner and manager, is retired and is selling the store’s inventory to one of the employees and her fiancé. Lacy Ranzini and Brandon Booth are purchasing the inventory from Steve and will be starting their own pet store, Thrive Pet Supply! It will be in the same location as Best Pets.
Linda Kader, the original owner of Best Pets, passed away in February 2024. Steve, who was the manager at the time, became the owner. After battling cancer last year and beating it, Steve has been cancer-free for some time. He’s now choosing to spend more time with his wife, kids, and grandkids. Since retiring, Steve has been volunteering with the Samaritan’s Purse, an organization that helps men, women, and children affected by war, poverty, disasters, and famine. He also bought an RV and is currently traveling around the United States with his wife and their three dogs. They’ve also purchased a home in Arizona.
Lacy, one of the new owners, has worked at Best Pets since 2017. She was studying to become a veterinary assistant while working at the store and discovered her true passion was right there at Best Pets. Even after becoming a vet assistant, she continued working part-time at the store. In 2020, during the pandemic, she returned to Best Pets full-time and has been there ever since. Lacy is especially passionate about animal nutrition. If your dog or cat has food sensitivities or allergies—or if you’re just looking for the perfect food or treat—Lacy is here to help with expert guidance.
Brandon is a licensed dental hygienist, and some of our customers may recognize him from dental offices around Antioch. He’s been helping out at Best Pets part-time since 2020, organizing shelves and improving merchandising. If you’ve visited the store recently, you’ve probably noticed some of the amazing changes he’s made!
Both Lacy and Brandon are strong advocates for rescue animals. They currently foster and volunteer for Gutter Cat Adoptions, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foster-based cat rescue located in Antioch, IL and previously they did more with the rescue but now they are more focused on running the store.
One of the biggest changes they’re making is that Thrive Pet Supply will no longer purchase animals from breeders, wholesalers, or mills. Instead, all birds, guinea pigs, rabbits, reptiles, and other small animals will come from owner relinquishments. If someone can no longer care for their pet, or has an accidental litter, Thrive can help them find a new home.
The only animals that will still come from breeders are our freshwater fish, and our feeder rats and mice.
They plan to keep fewer animals in the store and will focus more on pet nutrition and supplies — which is part of the reason for starting their own store under the new name Thrive Pet Supply.
While pets may seem fine on lower-quality food now, feeding them better food can help prevent future health issues and allow them to not just get by, but thrive!
Thrive Pet Supply is committed to continuing its presence in the Antioch community they will be joining the Antioch Chamber of Commerce and will be participating in downtown events with the Village of Antioch, Illinois - Government
The store will remain in the same location: 939 Main St., Antioch, IL 60002.
If you have any questions about the transition, feel free to call the store and speak with Lacy or Brandon at 847-838-2378 — or stop by and check out all the exciting changes for yourself!
We hope to have the transition to Thrive Pet Supply completed by June 1st. We want all of our current customers to know that we will transfer any of the frequent buyer purchases and honor the current Best Pets punchcards.
