Entrepreneurs all have something – a dream or a vision, perhaps – that drives them to take the leap into the unknown. Starting a business, after all, comes with a lot of unknowns. Will the business be a hit or a miss? Will it beat the odds in a crowded playing field? The what if’s and uncertainly can often drive some to set their entrepreneurial dreams aside for another time -- or altogether. When you walk through the front door of Midnight Izzy’s in Ligonier, Pennsylvania, you just might be lucky enough to meet owner Joyce McKenzie. Her reason for starting her popular pet supply shop is one of the most powerful: a mother’s love for her son.

Ligonier is a small, charming town in Western Pennsylvania, just over an hour’s drive from downtown Pittsburgh. Most people equate it with the classic amusement park Idlewild and such historical sites as Fort Ligonier. However, it’s also home to a variety of darling restaurants and quaint shops.

Nestled along West Main Street in the quiet town, Midnight Izzy’s caters to dog and cat people, selling a generous selection of foods, treats, and toys -- and turning first-time visitors into long-time customers, with many blossoming into treasured friends.

“We meet a lot of interesting people passing through Ligonier and have many loyal customers who have become more than just that. They have become friends,” McKenzie says.

While Midnight Izzy’s – named for the McKenzie family’s beloved five-year-old Newfoundland Midnight Isabella (nicknamed Izzy) – may look like your average pet store at first glance, it’s really so much more.

Joyce McKenzie, after all, is driven by the love for her teenage son, Sam, who has autism and Down’s Syndrome. Sam is the driving force behind just about everything Joyce and her family does in life, including starting and running Midnight Izzy’s.

“Our goal was to create a safe place for Sam to work and to help out,” McKenzie says.

Browse the many products as you stroll through the shop and you’ll immediately discover the uniqueness of Midnight Izzy’s. You’ll find, of course, high-quality food, including grain-free dog food and treats that will have your dog and cat begging for more.

If you have a pup, check out Midnight Izzy’s featured product – Captain and Sandy Gourmet Dog Biscuits. The dog biscuits are made right in Greensburg, less than a half an hour from Ligonier, “at the Clelian Center, by adults with developmental disabilities,” McKenzie says. “All proceeds go to Clelian Heights.”

Learn more about the Clelian Center on their official website. The organization makes both gourmet dog biscuits and scented and unscented soaps.

Whether you’re looking for a good read or a unique gift, thumb through what McKenzie describes as the shop’s most unique product: “the Black Bear book series, written and illustrated by Denise Lawson.”

The Black Bear book series tells the stories of retired Alaskan sled dogs and their quest to find homes in retirement. “All of the proceeds go to Denise and her husband Gordon's tireless efforts in re-homing retired sled dogs. Denise and her pups are here periodically throughout the year for book signings and meet and greets,” McKenzie says.

Find out more about Denise Lawson’s Black Bear Sled Dog.

All entrepreneurs have their own barometers by which they measure success. While it’s probably safe to say that many are driven by money and financial independence, McKenzie is inspired by something a little different -- yet equally powerful.

“The success of our business is not measured in dollar signs for me. It is in helping to support causes we believe in,” she says. In addition to supporting Clelian Heights and Black Bear, Midnight Izzy’s also donates “a portion of sales on certain items to the Autism Society of America.”

Head over to the official Facebook page for Midnight Izzy’s, where you’ll find store hours and more information to plan your visit. You can also call Midnight Izzy’s at (724) 433-2831.

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