2 min read

A combination indoor-outdoor dog park and restaurant called Woof Play Eat is slated to open by September in North Deering.

Located in 15,000 square feet of former office space at 49 Northport Drive, Woof Play Eat will provide off-leash areas where dog owners can play with their pups and on-leash areas where they can enjoy food and drinks. Owners Brad and Marissa Sterl of Rye, New Hampshire, said the menu for the restaurant will include Neapolitan-style pizza, burgers, falafel smash burgers, steak frites and salads.

The venue will also offer a coffee bar, alcoholic beverages and nonalcoholic drinks. The restaurant seats 85, while the 10,000-square-foot dog play space can accommodate more than 100 people and their dogs.

The venue will also offer dog day care services, with enrichment activities like stimulating games and command training. The park will be membership-based, with day passes available. All incoming dogs will need to show proof of vaccinations, and trained staff will be on hand to oversee the operation.

“We want this to be one of the area’s central hubs for people to meet and talk about all things dog,” said Marissa Sterl.

While owners of fearful or reactive dogs may not be able to bring their pets to the facility, the Sterls said they still want to be able to serve the area’s dogs and dog owners as comprehensively as possible. To that end, Woof Play Eat will host a variety of dog-centric community gatherings including fundraisers, dog adoption events, puppy yoga and first aid classes for dog owners.

Tim Cebula has been a food writer and editor for 23 years. A former correspondent for The Boston Globe food section, his work has appeared in Time, Health, Food & Wine, CNN.com, and Boston magazine,...

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