Street Style: Meet Kevin and Kim Gilliam of Frolick Dogs
For Kim and Kevin Gilliam, opening Frolick Dogs was never just about giving four-legged friends a place to play, it was about creating a place where owners could build stronger relationships with them. Today, more than a decade after opening the area’s first canine sports club, the husband-and-wife team have built one of Alexandria's most beloved and unique destinations for dog-lovers and their companions alike.
But their story starts long before that.
Kim grew up in Massachusetts and Delaware before her family moved to Northern Virginia during her time in college; she has been calling it home ever since.
Kevin is an Alexandria native. He was born here and spent his formative years in his maternal grandmother’s home on Duke Street.
Despite both living in the DMV, the two happened to meet in Baltimore. Kim was visiting a friend and Kevin was in town celebrating his birthday. They both ended up meeting at a bar called Good Love—a name that, in hindsight, feels almost prophetic—and have been together ever since.
"We always joke that we wouldn't have met any other way," Kim says. "We didn't go to the same places or run in the same circles. It really was pure chance."
Soon after, Kevin began working as a dog trainer at Olde Towne School for Dogs, where he spent nearly a decade helping hundreds of dogs and their owners. He loved his job but kept hearing the same thing from clients: “I wish my dog looked at me the way they look at you.” To Kevin’s ears, that wasn’t really about obedience, it was about connection. What people were searching for wasn’t more control, but a deeper relationship with their dog.
Upon further reflection, he realized there was a gap in the market. There were dog daycares, groomers, and veterinarians, but there wasn't a place dedicated to helping owners bond with their dogs while offering enrichment. He wanted to create that place.
"He pitched the idea to me," Kim says. "And I started putting pen to paper."
Kevin Gilliam
Shoot Location: Frolick Dogs
Photography: Renée C. Gage
With her background in association management, operations and marketing, and an MBA from Cornell University, Kim could see the business potential. Back then, however, the idea of a "dog gym" was anything but mainstream.
"When we started talking to banks, we definitely got some rolled eyes," Kim says with a laugh. "People understood the need for dog boarding and grooming, but taking your dog to the gym was a completely new concept."
Fortunately, they found a local banking partner who saw the vision, and in June 2014, Frolick Dogs opened its doors.
Kim Gilliam
Shoot Location: Frolick Dogs
Photography: Renée C. Gage
Word about the concept spread quickly. Before they knew it, Frolick was getting featured in national media outlets like The Washington Post, Reuters, NBC Nightly News, and even got a shoutout on social media from Jon Stewart at The Daily Show.
It was a whirlwind, but the attention was well-deserved. At a time when most dog facilities focused on traditional services, Frolick was introducing something new: treadmills, balance equipment, agility courses, enrichment activities, and structured programming – all for man’s best friend.
Today, demand remains extraordinary. Their daycare has built a long waitlist as current clients never seem to leave. Nosework and agility classes register full within hours. Still, the gym remains at the heart of what makes Frolick truly unique.
"It's not an indoor dog park," Kim says. "It's like when we go to the gym. You're here with a purpose. You're building a bond with your pup, exercising them both mentally and physically."
The facility welcomes everyone from first-time dog owners to experienced competitors to drop in during open gym hours. Some come to practice agility. Others work on obedience skills and tricks. Many simply want a fun, structured environment where they can engage with their pet.
"We love seeing people come in and say, 'My dog would never do that,'" Kevin says. "And then they leave saying, 'I can't believe my dog did it.'"
That sense of accomplishment and connection is exactly what they hoped to create.
When asked about what it’s like to run a business with their spouse, the two have the same answer: it works because each partner brings a distinct skill set to the table. Kim oversees business operations, staffing, and the daycare program. Kevin leads obedience training and serves as the resident canine behavior expert. "We have very clear lines of responsibility," Kim says. "It helps ensure we don’t step on each other's toes."
Running a family business isn't always easy, but it has given them something they value deeply: flexibility and the opportunity to truly be present for their daughter. She of course works for Frolick too, on-hand to help with community events and birthday parties. "It's become more of a lifestyle than a job," Kevin says.
For all the success the two have achieved, the biggest surprise wasn't the media attention or the growth, it was the community.
There are 34 dogs who have been attending Frolick for 10 years or longer, and that means their owners have too. Clients who were once strangers quickly evolved into friends, and then became family.
It was something the Gilliams realized early on. Shortly after Frolick opened, Kevin faced a serious illness and spent six months in the hospital and rehabilitation. While Kim worked to keep the business running and care for their young daughter, clients pitched in however they could. Some helped clean, others manned the front desk during preschool pickup and drop-off, but more than anything, they let Kim know she wasn’t alone. "It's something we'll never forget," she says. "We'll always be grateful."
That connection goes both ways. The Gilliams will stay in touch with longtime clients as their dogs age, often visiting during their final months. "When you open a business, you think about the business part," Kim says. "You don't realize you're creating a family."
More than a decade later, that's exactly what Frolick Dogs has become. A gym. A daycare. A training center. And for many Alexandrians—both two and four-legged—a second home.
ABOUT KEVIN & KIM
Your neighborhood: Alexandria West End
Your hometown:
Kim: Boston, MA
Kevin: Alexandria born & raised!
What would surprise people about you?
Kim: Even though I manage the ‘business’ side of things at Frolick thanks to my Cornell MBA, I’ve been an animal-lover from the start. My first jobs were mucking out stalls as a horse-riding camp counselor and managing the kitten room at the Humane Society. I’ve ridden a horse across Iceland, a camel across the UAE desert, and fed a bottle to a baby kangaroo.
Kevin: That I play multiple instruments – guitar, bass and drums – and traveled around the country for 6 months as a band tour manager and bass player.
Favorite book or movie:
Kim: Favorite movie – Backdraft. Give me a gripping action movie with a Hans Zimmer score any day :)
Kevin: Favorite movie – BeatStreet, a classic breakdancing movie from the 80’s.
Guilty pleasure:
Kim: Taking a nap; I come by that honestly as my dad was an all star napper!
Kevin: Driving with the radio really loud, jamming out to my favorite songs.
Latest binge-watch:
Kim: How to get to Heaven from Belfast on Netflix
Kevin: My Lottery Dream Home on HGTV
Bucket list travel destination:
Kim: So. Many. Places! Clients have invited us to visit their seaside home in Turkey so that tops the list.
Kevin: The same clients Kim mentioned reside in Ethiopia and I would love to visit them there!
What would your walkout song be?
Kim: The walkout song for our wedding was You & Me by Dave Matthews Band because we truly believed that together, we could do anything. 16 years, one awesome kid, and an amazing business later, it still rings true!
Kevin: See Kim’s response.
Favorite motto/quote:
Kim: I recently found the note my dad wrote to me at my baby shower advising me to “Savor the Flavor” and it’s such good advice. The days fly by, you need to be intentional about enjoying the good times with friends and family.
Kevin: “You build it, they will come” from Field of Dreams.
STYLE
Define your style in three words or less:
Kim: Simple, classic, comfortable.
Kevin: Classic & relaxed.
The go-to piece in your wardrobe:
Kim: black pants (pairs with the next item…)
Kevin: a hat – I have so many representing my favorite bands, brews, and outdoor activities.
Product you can’t live without:
Kim: lint roller :)
Kevin: Dog treat pouch
Boots, dress shoes, or sneakers?
Kim: Merrell mocassins
Kevin: Sneakers
WELLNESS
Go-to way to de-stress:
Kim: reading a paperback book under an umbrella on the beach
Kevin: listen to music
Favorite way to stay active:
Kim: Playing with dogs in the gym
Kevin: hitting the gym with my personal trainer
Wellness goal:
Kim: To stay an active part of my daughter’s life for as long as possible.
Kevin: I like Kim’s response
Want to try:
Kim: Erging – my daughter joined the crew team this year so I have a renewed interest in getting on our row machine at home.
Kevin: Would love to join an axe throwing team.
Proudest wellness achievement:
Kim: Coaching my daughter’s volleyball team for 4 years
Kevin: Learning to walk again after multiple spinal surgeries.
HOME
Favorite room in your home:
Kim: My bedroom, very tranquil
Kevin: The kitchen because that’s where the food is at!
Antiques, modern, or a mix?
Kim: comfortable and practical – I’m all about functional furniture
Kevin: Mix
Last item you bought for your home:
Kim: New bed frame for my daughter that includes storage drawers, charging station, bookshelf to help her stay organized
Kevin: See above
Clutter-free or well-lived in?
Kim: Well lived in with a fine covering of fur, I want everyone to feel comfortable when they walk through the door, like they can kick off their shoes and plop on the couch.
Kevin: Well lived in
Next planned purchase:
Kim: None, we have it the way we like it.
Kevin: See above
ALEXANDRIA
What do you love about Alexandria Stylebook?
Kim: The variety of small businesses & owners they feature from our community
Kevin: That one of our long-time clients and friends is the editor!
Favorite spot in Alexandria:
Kim: The waterfront, so relaxing watching the boats go by.
Kevin: Same!
Your go-to shop(s):
Kim: Recently stumbled upon AR Workshop, what a fun place to spend time with friends and family while expressing your creativity in making lovely home decor items!
Kevin: Reunions is always a fun spot to browse and find gifts.
Best food spot(s):
Kim: Beeliner Diner is our family’s go-to spot for Friday night dinners together, catching up after a busy week over our favorite comfort foods and milkshakes..
Kevin: Same!
Favorite local organization(s):
Kim: We love the Animal Welfare League of Alexandria and often volunteer our time and talents there!
Kevin: We often help the Alexandria Police Foundation fundraise in support of the city’s retired police K9s.
Annual Alexandria event you most look forward to:
Kim: Dogtoberfest at Port City Brewery is always a great time!!
Kevin: Animal Welfare League of Alexandria’s Paws in the Park which originally started out as something we helped organize – Alexandria Love Your Pet Day on Colvin St!
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