What started as a feed company catering to FFA students has evolved over the last six years into a destination pet store in Cy-Fair.
Family-owned Flying M Feed Co. opened in 2012 in an 8-by-8-foot shed on Jackrabbit Road. It has since grown into a 4,000-square-foot pet supply store run by three generations of women—Trace Menchacha, her mother Melba Chochrun and her daughter Lea.
Menchacha said she believes the eclectic design and wide range of unusual products earned Flying M the title of “America’s Coolest Store” by Pets+ Magazine in August. The store’s reputation has brought in people from across the U.S., she said.
“We have people within the industry who come from all over the country to see the concept,” Menchacha said. “We have people from all over the state that come to see our products in-person, and people from all over the city shop here because there are things they can’t get anywhere else.”
The store is separated into five main sections: pet supplies, the wild bird center, a boutique area, livestock and FFA supplies, and hydroponic gardens, which are used to grow kale and lettuce that customers can mix into pet diets.
The building itself is filled with a mix of products ranging from dog ice cream treats to made-in-Texas travel bags. An organic dog treat bar lets customers choose from flavors such as Blueberry Toast & Waffles and Cheddar Pretzel.
Menchacha has also adopted two cats and one dog, who are allowed to roam around the store and greet customers. The store is designed to appeal to all five senses, she said.
“When you walk in, it smells great,” she said. “We either have music or a movie going. We have a coffee, soda and popcorn bar. We have the store pets. And it’s really a visual feast.”
Flying M has given more than $100,000 back to the community over the past three years, Menchacha said, including the purchase of FFA projects and donations of tons of dog food to animal rescues. She said her main goal with the store is to brighten her customers’ days.
“We don’t care if it changes the sales number at the bottom of the receipt,” she said. “We just want them to leave having a good experience.”
13225 FM 529, Ste. 107, Houston 832-406-7580 www.flyingmfeedco.com Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9 a.m.-7 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m., closed Sundays
