Two years after opening Craig's Cat Cafe in Spring City, owner Rachel Craig says she still hears the same comment from first-time visitors.
"I didn't know this was here."
It's a refrain she's hoping to hear less often as the business celebrates its second anniversary on Wednesday, July 15.
To mark the occasion, Craig plans to offer discounted admission to the cat lounge, anniversary stickers, giveaways, and other small surprises throughout the day as she thanks customers for supporting the business.
More than anything, she wants the anniversary to introduce the cafe to neighbors who may not realize what's tucked away in the Riveredge Square shopping center, just off the Schuylkill River Trail.
“I get people that come from other states, people who are looking for a cat cafe, but I feel like a lot of the local people don't know that it's also a coffee shop,” Craig said, noting that visitors are welcome to stop in for coffee and baked goods whether they're planning to visit the cats or not. “I would like more local interaction.”
Craig's Cat Cafe, which Craig said was the first cat cafe to open in Chester County, features a traditional coffee shop alongside a separate lounge that's home to about 20 to 30 adoptable cats. Guests can purchase admission to enter the lounge, where they can interact with the cats and, if they make a connection, begin the adoption process.
The cafe also serves Twin Valley Coffee products, a brand that's becoming increasingly popular across Chester and Lancaster counties.
Inspired By a Trip Abroad
Craig said the idea for the cafe began several years ago during a family trip to Iceland.
Her children, who had become interested in Japanese culture, convinced her to visit a cat cafe in Reykjavik while meeting her son, who was stationed in Germany with the Air Force. Although cat cafes were popularized in Japan, the Iceland visit was her first experience with one.
"I was like, 'You've got to be kidding me. This is so cool,'" Craig recalled.
Finding the right location proved just as memorable. Craig said she and her husband frequently walk the Schuylkill River Trail together. While discussing the idea of opening a cafe, he jokingly told her he'd support it if she could find a location on the trail.
She did.
"So that was like, 'Oh my goodness, it's meant to be,'" Craig said with a laugh.
A Spring-Ford Area High School graduate who grew up in Oaks, Craig said the Spring City location felt like a natural fit because of her local roots.
Helping Cats Find Homes
The cafe partners with Calla's Critter Rescue, which provides the adoptable cats that roam the lounge. Craig said the rescue has hundreds of cats in its care and adopted out more than 300 cats last year alone. Cats that don't thrive in one adoption setting can be moved between Craig's Cat Cafe and another adoption space operated by the rescue, giving them the best chance to find permanent homes.
Volunteers also play a key role in the operation, arriving twice a day to care for the cats before opening and after closing.
"I have a great, great group of volunteers that come in," Craig said.
Although adoptions remain central to the business, Craig said the cafe isn't just for prospective pet owners.
"You don't have to go see the cats," Craig said. "It's a coffee shop."
Craig's Cat Cafe is located at 11 Riverside Drive in Spring City. The cafe is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
