Sammamish is scheduled to get its second pet store March 12 — at least temporarily — when national retailer Petco opens its doors atop the Plateau.

The 9,623-square-foot store will be located in the Sammamish Highlands Shopping Center where the old Ika Sushi and Bento, Rancho Grande Mexican restaurant and Blockbuster Video previously stood.

“We’re always looking to introduce Petco to new communities and expand our presence in markets where we have opportunity to reach new customers,” said Lisa Epstein, senior communications specialist for Petco.

The new Sammamish store will mark the 27th Petco location in Western Washington, with other stores in nearby Redmond and Issaquah.

“We look forward to serving the Sammamish community and helping pet parents in the area provide the best possible care for their animals with our wide assortment of great products and services,” said Epstein, highlighting a wide variety of food options and numerous pet adoption events held throughout the year.

Locally owned pet supply store Civilized Nature, also located in the Sammamish Highlands Shopping Center, announced it plans to move its location to Grand Ridge Plaza in the Issaquah Highlands this summer. The small business noted the addition of the national store puts them a “great disadvantage in the pet supply industry.”

“Although we have very different core values and product offerings to the community, the statistics are not in our favor,” owner D’Arcy Dent wrote on Civilized Nature’s website. “Rather than abandoning the commitment we have to the health and well being of the animals in our community, we have chosen to remain in business and relocate our store.”

Dent noted in the statement that with limited retail space, there just weren’t any other options in Sammamish.

“This has been a significant topic of great concern for all of us-business owners, and Sammamish citizens alike,” she wrote. “I am very heartened by the communications offered by the Sammamish City Council and many of those who are becoming aware of this issue and choosing to make their voices heard. I encourage everyone to communicate in person with as many City Council members as you can. There are changes that can be made to ensure the possibility of alternate business locations for other stores in the future.”

The City of Sammamish is scheduled to commission an economic development plan in 2013.