09/04/2025
We have been asked the reasoning behind our closing, & we feel like it’s important to be transparent. We hope this answers some questions. Catnip Café & Lounge is closing on September 7th, & while this is our story, it’s not just about us.The economy has made it harder for people to go out, harder for rescues to adopt pets, & harder for small businesses to survive. On top of that, the organizations that are supposed to support downtown businesses often come with expensive membership fees that don’t actually benefit small, independent shops like ours. Instead, priority too often goes to big donors and national brands.I’m not just a business owner…I’ve been a part of this community for over 10 years. I’ve raised my children here, and I’ve put my heart into creating something meaningful for our town. Watching small businesses close isn’t just sad, it’s a warning sign.We are not the only recent closing, & unless things change, others will follow. If we want to keep our historic downtown alive and unique, we need to stand up for it and stand against astronomical commercial rent costs that only a select few can afford. The city should put more effort into promoting downtown, to make it an attractive & fun place for us locals to live. A place that has things for families to do, instead of having to fight I-4 traffic to travel & spend our money in other towns. Even without a big budget, FAR more can to help downtown businesses: maps placed in the park of all downtown businesses, QR codes linking to an online map, fun themed days highlighting each business & driving city employees to go there (coffee at Krazy Kup day, or partner with businesses for a weekday discount for downtown workers). We are busy running our businesses & trying to stay afloat… it’s so disheartening to see similar sized towns with unique fun events, embracing the small shops & restaurants. Here are some things we can do:✅ Shop & support small businesses✅ Adopt from local rescues✅ Question who your leaders are supporting: local entrepreneurs or big-box brands?Every dollar, every choice, every voice matters. Let’s make sure our downtown doesn’t lose its soul.💜 Catnip Café & Lounge
