Happy Thanksgiving! While we relax with the dog show (traitors, we know, but we can’t resist those puppy eyes!) and wait for our dinner to cook, here is a renovation update to share the progress we’ve made in the last few weeks!
On the cafe side, we got our coffee equipment!! Espresso Analysts came to install our espresso machine, drip machine, and grinders, and we also set up some stand alone equipment such as the syphon brewer and tea kettles. Rising Star Coffee Roasters came to help us calibrate the machines and do some amazing training, and we’ve been practicing every day so we’ll have the drinks purrfected by the time you come to visit!
On that note, we also finalized our menu and ordered the menu boards. They arrived a couple of days ago, so we hope to hang them up this weekend! Check them out:
We also received our cafe chairs, reception desk, and merchandise shelves, and cleared out the extra tables in the cafe. And with that, the cafe side is essentially done except for art!
On the lounge side, we have added a bunch of small details to make it more cozy. We:
- Added some small glowing cat lamps
- Painted the window seat to match the rest of the lounge (making cushion covers next!)
- Put a table for dining/games near the window (will be adding another in the back soon)
- Added more books (even more arriving this weekend)
- Hung a screen to make the armchair corner more private
- Laid down some fish and cat rugs
- Changed the pendant lights and sconces to make them more cleanable and cat-proof
- Plugged in two charger sets for all sorts of phones and electronics
- Placed an adorable cat ottoman to keep the person in the corner chair company
Check it out:
We were finally able to fix and paint the ceiling where we had cut it open to safely mount the catwalk, so once that was done we were able to deep clean, put the furniture in their final places, and take our construction equipment back to home storage for good. There’s so much room for activities now!
In the back “cat privacy” room, MDG Flooring America helped us put down some beautiful flooring to match the rest of the cafe and make it more comfortable and clean for the cats. No one likes cold, hard cement! We also installed the cat doors to let the kitties enter that room easily.
Similarly to the cafe, the cat lounge renovation is basically complete except for art and cat toys/supplies!
Due to the upcoming holidays, it’s been hard to coordinate all of the necessary documents and people required for our city inspections. These include Plumbing, Electrical, HVAC, Health, Fire Prevention, and Building. But just before everyone left yesterday, we got news that we should finally be able to start scheduling them next week.
As soon as we pass inspections, we will be able to set an opening date, so wish us luck!
In the meantime, we hope you all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family, friends, and lots of delicious food! We feel so thankful for your constant, overwhelming support of our work and our mission.