LANSING — It took leadership at Constellation Cat Cafe three years to transform a two-story building in Lansing’s Old Town into its new home.
The local nonprofit, coffee shop and cat adoption operation opened the doors of 1041 N. Cedar St. on Aug. 30. Purchased for $135,000 in 2022, it offers nearly double the cat cafe’s former 1,800-square-foot space at 3320 E. Lake Lansing Road in East Lansing.
At any given time, the first floor is home to 15 to 30 cats aged six months to 10 years old. All are adoptable, having come from local rescue groups.
Guests can interact with them in the facility’s cat room or go through a set of double doors to lounge in the coffee cafe, which serves specialty and brewed coffee utilizing Lansing-based 517 Coffee Company beans. They can also order milkshakes, matcha and mocktails.
The move is a smart one for the operation, Executive Director Savannah Segueda said. Buying the property means no more leasing storefront space, and the new building’s second floor offers space for staff offices, she said
“Our mission is just to help more cats find homes,” Segueda said.
More space in Old Town
So far, the nonprofit has placed 2,692 cats with families.
Segueda can speak firsthand about the impact it has made. Before she led the organization, she was a customer. She adopted her cat Jasper from the nonprofit.
“He’s a troublesome little boy,” she said. “He likes to get into some mischief, but he’s definitely the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I wouldn’t be here today if it weren’t for him so I’m very grateful.”
Segueda transitioned from cafe customer to volunteer to executive director.
The new building, formerly home to Su Casa Boutique, offers the needed space in a neighborhood that will hopefully help sustain the operation, she said.
The nonprofit raised approximately $35,000 to help fund the North Cedar Street building’s renovation, and hopes to raise $15,000 more, Segueda said. The building dates back to the 1800s.
“Our weekends have been incredibly busy, which we’re so grateful for,” she said. “Our community has really come out and is really excited with us to finally be open again. A lot of people were really excited to be able to stop in after their workday since it’s so close to downtown and a lot of people work in Old Town.”
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Adoption process is simple
The operation, open seven days a week, employs just over a dozen employees and benefits from the help of hundreds of volunteers.
The process for cat adoption is simple, Segueda said. Interested individuals can apply on Constellation Cat Cafe’s website at www.constellationcatcafe.com. Staff may reach out with follow-up questions.
“Approvals are good for six months,” Segueda said. Those who have them can initiate an adoption at any point during that time period.
“There are some cases where you can adopt and take home the cat on the same date,” she said. In others, it could take a few days to finalize an adoption.
Learn more about Constellation Cat Cafe on Facebook at “Constellation Cat Cafe,” and on Instagram at “constellationcatcafe.”
Contact Reporter Rachel Greco at rgreco@lsj.com. Follow her on X @GrecoatLSJ .
This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Constellation Cat Cafe opens doors of new location in Lansing’s Old Town
Reporting by Rachel Greco, Lansing State Journal / Lansing State Journal
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