Nashville's First Cat Cafe Is Permanently Closing Its Doors

After two years of business, Nashville's first cat cafe is permanently closing its doors this week. Mewsic Kitty Cafe opened in 2018, introducing the city to the concept of a coffee shop with adoptable cats you can play with.

Earlier this year, owner Maegan Phan and her husband found out they were expecting their second child, WKRN reports. Shortly after, the pandemic forced many businesses to shut down. Even after reopening in Phase 2, the business saw a decrease in revenue compared to previous years because people were still hesitant about going to a "high touch business" like a cat cafe. The closures combined with the increased family obligations lead to Phan's decision to close Mewsic Kitty Cafe at the end of the month.

In a lengthy Facebook post in August, Phan announced the difficult decision to close Mewsic Kitty Cafe, but called the experience "life changing."

Mewsic Kitty Cafe partnered with the Nashville Cat Rescue organization to help cats find their forever homes. According to WKRN, any cats not adopted by the time the cafe closes its doors will go to foster homes. Despite closing her own business, Phan expressed her passion for their mission and even shared a list of cat cafes in the area that have opened since 2018.

"Whether you're considering adoption of just need some cat time, please stop in to support the life-saving work of these local small businesses so maybe they can make it through this challenging economic time," she said.

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