JOIN THE PACK

OUR STORY

We wanted a place to
bring our dogs.
So we built it.

A social club designed for the way you actually live with your dog — without compromising on either side of the leash.

WHY WE BUILT THIS

Built around how people actually live with dogs.

We're dog owners first. We've spent too many afternoons either at a dog park where our dogs weren't safe, or at a restaurant where our dogs weren't welcome.

So we built a place where neither has to be true. A clubhouse with a real bar and a real kitchen. Yards your dog will actually look forward to. People on the floor who know your dog by name. The kind of place we'd build for ourselves — because we did.

Packyard at dusk — the campus from above

ALEXANDRIA & JIMMY · CO-FOUNDERS

For dogs.
For people.
For community.

THE TEAM

Two co-founders. One bench. Built for this.

ALEXANDRIA HEPPNER

CO-FOUNDER · OPERATIONS & HOSPITALITY

Day-to-day operator of the Chicago flagship. With years of hands-on hospitality experience opening and running independent venues, Alex runs the floor and leads the team members you'll come to know by name. A passionate dog trainer with deep knowledge of canine behavior and body language, she designs every experience so both dogs and their people feel safe, understood, and genuinely cared for. She personally oversees the Pack Introduction process and works closely with the behavior team to ensure every dog — no matter their age, breed, or energy level — has a positive and secure experience from day one. Her focus is creating a space where dogs can truly be themselves while their humans relax and enjoy the community she's built.

JIMMY PIEPRZYCA

CO-FOUNDER · STRATEGY & PLATFORM

Concept architect and visionary behind The Packyard. A seasoned restaurant operator and entrepreneur, Jimmy brings deep hospitality experience from building and running successful independent concepts, including Danny's Pizza & Burger Bar. He shapes the overall brand standards, systems, real estate strategy, and scalable platform so every location delivers the same joyful, high-quality environment for dogs and their people. With a sharp eye for operations, build-out execution, and long-term growth, Jimmy ensures the heart of The Packyard — exceptional hospitality paired with genuine dog-first experiences — remains consistent as the pack expands.

BUILD-OUT BENCH

ADVISORS · RETAINED

Canine behavior specialists with working-dog program credentials and real-world pack management experience. Board-certified veterinarians who advise on canine health, nutrition, and emergency protocols. The bench we wanted in our corner from day one — experts who understand dogs as deeply as we do.

WHAT WE STAND FOR

A place. A standard. A neighborhood.

Packyard is built around a simple idea: dogs belong with their people, and their people belong with each other. The yards make that real for the dogs. The bar and the courtyard make it real for the people.

The rest is execution.

WHAT YOU'LL FEEL HERE

  • Your dog is truly part of the pack — not just tolerated, but celebrated.
  • A bar you'd happily come to even without your dog — but you'll be glad you brought them.
  • A team that knows your name, your dog's name, and their favorite spot.
  • Sunday roasts (and weeknight evenings) worth planning your life around.
  • That rare calm of knowing everything is handled — so you can actually relax and enjoy the moment.

For both ends of the leash.

🐾

This is Packyard.