Cat cafe coming to downtown Sioux Falls
Aug. 11, 2022
Soon, you’ll be able to cuddle a cat while your cappuccino cools down.
That’s because Heather Wendlandt is bringing a cat cafe to downtown Sioux Falls.
The Cattitude Cafe will open in the newly renovated Johnson Building at 11th Street and Second Avenue later this year or in early 2023. While it will offer a humans-only eating area, for a small fee customers can take their drinks into a separate room where cats will be waiting to be caressed and to entertain — when the mood suits them, of course.
The cats will be available for adoption. Giving people access to cats and cats access to people benefits both, said Cattitude owner and CEO Wendlandt. Some renters are not permitted to have pets, while others love cats but live with people who are allergic to them.
“We’re just really excited for this. It will benefit not just the cats but the people as well,” she said. “Animals are proven to reduce stress and anxiety, and help with overall depression. We’re really hoping people can come here and spend time with cats. It will lift their spirits hopefully and benefit the cats by not being on streets or in the shelter. They’ll be able to be free and get pets and love.”
Animal cafes have increased in popularity in recent years. A cafe in Tokyo features hedgehogs while a Seoul, South Korea, business offers patrons the chance to pet sheep. Dog cafes can be found in Los Angeles and elsewhere, but cat cafes are the most popular.
There are 134 cat cafes in the United States, Wendlandt said. She visited her first one in Minneapolis.
“I felt in love with the concept,” she said. “It was giving cats a good place to be until they find their forever homes,” she said. “I fell in love with the concept, then I wanted to pursue my own. Last year, I went to one in Omaha. This idea started to come together. I thought Sioux Falls could benefit from something like this, and lots of cats could benefit – people too.”
Scott Blount of Lloyd Cos., who served as the commercial broker for the space, has done plenty of restaurant deals in his career — but never one quite like this.
“This is a first,” said Blount, who had not heard of the concept before meeting Wendlandt. “And then I learned how many there are across the country, and there’s quite a few. It’s a concept that works, and people like it a lot.”
Kori Baade, executive director of the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society, called the possibility of bringing a cat cafe to Sioux Falls as “a cool idea.” The concept is growing across the United States, she said.
It has been suggested many time that the Sioux Falls Area Humane Society should open a cat cafe, but the nonprofit is busy enough with its own mission and currently shelters upward of 300 cats. It is excited to be a part of the plan and find more cats forever homes, Baade said.
“With Heather’s experience and love for animals, we know this will be a successful venture,” she said.
The two women plan to meet this month for a discussion of Wendlandt’s plans.
Wendlandt chose downtown Sioux Falls as the location because it draws foot traffic. The Johnson Building offers large windows that will allow the cats to sun themselves in the warmth and watch the events transpiring outside. Large windows indoors will give customers in the cafe’s food area a chance to watch the cats at play.
“People need to understand the cats are separate from the restaurant,” Blount said. “They’re in a glassed-in, large room, so there’s significant room to roam about.”
The location provides the visibility the cafe wanted, he added.
“The owner of the building, Justin Johnson, is very intrigued by the concept,” Blount said. “He thinks it will generate a lot of interest … and create a draw, and I think he’s right.”
The Cattitude will offer the usual coffees, lattes and espressos and also beer and wine. Remedy Brewing Co. likely will make a beer especially for the cafe. Wendlandt is considering names such as Catalicious for it.
It also will offer cold sandwiches, snacks and charcuterie boards. Health regulations do not permit the food to be taken into the cat room.
Wendlandt has been in the service industry for about eight years as both a bartender and bar manager. She was 4 years old when she was given her first cat, named Nova. Currently, she has three cats: Simba, Mufasa and Tails.
Admission to the cat room will be for 30 minutes, 60 minutes or however long the customer chooses.
“I’m thinking about doing a day pass if someone wants to work on their computer for a while or hang out for a few hours,” Wendlandt said. As much as cats like to loll around on keyboards while someone is typing, the longer time period could be the most convenient option.
The Cattitude is the latest business to lease space in the Johnson Building. It’s also the future home of 605 Running Co., which announced this week it’s moving from its original downtown location.
