Main Street Veterinary Hospital owners from left; Lori Hoe, Megan Manzie and Amanda Goodwin.

May 15. By Dave Yochum. It may be 70 years old in dog years but Main Street Veterinary Hospital is still in a growth phase. The locally owned practice will move into a new 8,000 square foot location on North Main in October. It’s right next door to the existing facility, a former single-family home.

Dr. Lori Hoe, co-founder, says the new space will give all six doctors plenty of room. She started with two doctors and five total staff in 2013. Total staff now is 32.

Hoe and Dr. Amanda Goodwin launched the business before the growth spurt in veterinary services and the COVID-driven desire to nest with nice things—and pets.

National trends

Indeed, during COVID there was a nationwide increase in pet ownership.

“The human-animal bond is such an amazing and wonderful thing to experience,” Hoe said. “During this time of isolation pets became even more of an integral part of individuals’ and families’ lives.  It makes me so happy to know more families are now knowing the love a pet can bring!”

There are other trends:

• Millennials postponed home ownership—and children—and turned to pets.

The team celebrated their ten year anniversary in April, 2023.

• Baby Boomers adopted pets as they become empty-nesters.

• Pet owners are taking their animals in for care more often.

Meanwhile, there has been consolidation in the industry such that many mom and pop practices were acquired by regional and national chains.

Main Street Veterinary Hospital, with the addition of co-owner Dr. Megan Manzie, who lives in Huntersville, remains locally owned. Hoe and Goodwin live in Cornelius and Davidson respectively.

MOVE on the move

Meanwhile Hoe’s husband David is also in the veterinary business.

His company, Mobile Veterinary Specialists (MOVES), is headquartered in Davidson. MOVES employs 33 veterinary surgeons, cardiologists and internists around the country, with 12 support personnel in offices over Summit Coffee in Davidson.

With a $3.8 million capital raise, founder Hoe says the company is expected to double in size. He also owns veterinary practices in Steele Creek and Rock Hill.

He plans to build a two-story, 10,000 square foot medical/office building on land purchased from Habitat, with MOVE taking the 5,000 square foot top floor. There will be two 2,500 square foot suites suitable for medical offices on the ground floor.