Coffee Cats Café Offers Coffee, Cuddles + a Cozy Atmosphere

After opening Coffee Cats, a cat café in West Des Moines, four years ago, Mary Jankowski is already thinking about expansions, including the possibility of a second location and adding on a “catio” off to the side of the original building.

Read how Coffee Cats went from idea to beloved Historic Valley Junction staple below:

Coffee Cats Café Q+A

How did Coffee Cats become what it is now?

Mary Jankowski: I had been a licensed mental health counselor for 40 years and around six or seven years ago, I knew I wanted to be done, but I didn’t yet want to retire. I had seen an article about a cat café, did some research and thought, “Wow, that looks cool.” I’m a huge cat lover and have had a cat nearly all my life. After researching what it would take to open one in Iowa and having conversations with the state of Iowa, City of West Des Moines, the Animal Rescue League and others. I looked at several spaces, but knew I wanted to find a location in Valley Junction because of the foot traffic. I was ready to give up when they called a merchant meeting, which is just neighbors talking about what’s happening in the district, grants, etc. That’s where I learned that I needed to talk to Scott Cutler with Cutler Development and saw the space that is now Coffee Cats.

How did you start working with Animal Rescue League?

MJ: Before opening the café, I contacted them to ensure they’d be on board with the idea. They were excited about it, so it was an easy partnership, and we could do adoptions onsite. We’re almost at 1,500 adoptions in four years!

Is Coffee Cats walk-in or appointment-based?

MJ: It’s both! I opened in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which wasn’t the original plan but is what ended up happening. I decided on six reservations and two walk-ins every hour, so eight people total. After COVID, I was going to increase the number but decided not to because eight is a comfortable number. Some people walk in to pet the cats briefly and others want a specific day and time. We offer 15, 30 or 60-minute increments.

Do the cats get a break in between appointments?

MJ: People are in there hour after hour with the cats, but we have rules about being with them, especially for kids. If they’re sleeping or eating, leave them alone. We want to minimize bites and scratches, so we don’t want young kids to pick them up. We also might say this one just got here so let’s leave this one alone. Staff members are in and out of the lounge a lot to make sure cats are comfortable and safe, and sometimes we do build in a little bit of a break for them.

What were some of the things that surprised you as you were starting to build this business?

MJ: Everything was new to me. I’d been in private practice and worked for myself for years, but having a business, hiring employees, building a budget, etc. were things I’d never done before, so I talked to people and got referrals and built up my network. Scott, who owns the building, has a brother, Peter, with a construction company that is the contractor for the café. I didn’t have to go look for a construction company. Being in Valley Junction was a huge help as well. They’re part of Main Street Iowa and have a Foundation, so being a part of Historic Valley Junction means there is a lot of support.

Do you feel like there’s a connectedness being in Historic Valley Junction?

MJ: Definitely! If this is their first time here, they’re here for the day visiting Reading in Public Bookstore + Café or Bing’s. We know the restaurants to tell people to visit, too.

What’s one piece of advice from your network that stuck with you as you built your business?

MJ: The importance of networking has been huge for me. I knew nothing about being a barista or making coffee. My husband and I knew the owners of Grounds for Celebration, and they did some consulting and helped us out. Just keep talking to people. If they don’t know, they’ll know someone who does.

What advice do you have for someone wanting to open their own cat café?

MJ: I get calls and emails from people wanting to open cat cafés in other cities around Iowa, and I’m always happy to speak with them. The process with the state is a huge thing, so get as much information ready as you can upfront so you have an idea of what costs are going to be for rent, equipment and employees. This will also help you decide whether to move forward with your business.

What’s next for Coffee Cats Café?

MJ: We make little changes all the time! We’ve renovated a little, put out more merchandise, added BINGO with cats, trivia, movie nights. I like visiting cat cafés in other cities to get ideas.

Interested in visiting Coffee Cats? You can try walking in or make a reservation on coffeecatscafe.com.

The Greater Des Moines Partnership celebrates the Greater Des Moines (DSM) entrepreneur community and helps small businesses succeed with one-of-a-kind resources and opportunities for networking. Find out how other entrepreneurs have found success by reading their stories and attending local small business events in the region.

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