Pittsburgh’s first cat cafe to close soon
In three years, Pittsburgh’s first cat cafe found “furever” homes for nearly 350 cats, who lived at the Colony Cafe and socialized with customers as they enjoyed the bistro’s coffee, cocktails and snacks.
But now the Strip District business is closing, a victim of the COVID-19 pandemic. Owners Erik and Sue Hendrickson announced on their social media platforms May 3 that the cafe would close by the end of the month.
“This was a really hard decision, but like anybody in hospitality, it’s a tough go,” Mrs. Hendrickson said. “So this just kind of did us in.”
The cafe’s cats came from the Animal Friends shelter in Ohio Township. Chief programs officer Ann Ensiminger issued a statement about the closing:
“Three years ago, Animal Friends was humbled and honored when Sue and Erik Hendrickson invited us to partner with them as they opened up Colony Café .... Beyond a business, Colony Café was always first and foremost committed to finding homeless cats their forever homes and did so with passion.
“We are so grateful to Sue and Erik for taking a chance on a new venture, for including Animal Friends in their vision, and for helping Pittsburgh to continue to grow in its love and compassion for our furry feline companions. Sue, Erik and Colony Café will be sorely missed.”
Ms. Hendrickson said the cafe is having a going-out-of-business sale. She initially said the last day would be Saturday, although that is subject to change because they have their lease until the end of May. The Hendricksons did not respond to phone calls or emails Thursday.
The decision to close was solidified when the owner of Cafe Linimal — a restaurant in the Strip District’s Smallman Galley — agreed to take over the lease for the Penn Avenue storefront, Ms. Hendrickson said in early May.
She said they were also concerned that social-distancing restrictions might not be particularly hospitable to a business like Colony Cafe.
“We kind of looked at the big picture, and we’re a gathering place,” Ms. Hendrickson said. “That’s what we do best. We saw a lot of people pivoting and adjusting . ... But at its core, Colony is a place where people get together. We’re just not sure if people are going to want to get together in a
small space regularly.”
The last nine cats living there have all been adopted, the couple said on Facebook, and the adoption fees were paid by Pittsburgh Good Deeds.
Colony might have been the first cat cafe, but it’s not the only one. The Black Cat Market in Lawrenceville currently offers virtual kitty play times via Twitch.
Ms. Hendrickson said she was happy to find homes for so many cats and provide companionship for cat lovers.
“We don’t want people to be sad,” she said. “We’re so glad we were able to be a matchmaker to so many people. People are posting photos, ‘I got my cat from Colony a year ago.’ ... We’re just grateful to have helped a little piece of those people’s lives, make a difference a little bit.”