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Rendering of the cafe concept. 📸 Credit: Batavia Committee of the Whole agenda
When you think about window shopping, cats probably aren’t the first thing that comes to mind.
But that’s exactly what may soon be coming to downtown Batavia. During a recent committee meeting, Batavia officials recommended approval for Kitty Cocoa Café, a combination coffee shop and cat lounge planned for 139 First Street.
The space was last occupied by Batavia Animal Clinic before it moved next door.
Here's what to know:
The concept: The 1,900-square-foot space would include a café serving coffee, Belgian-style hot chocolate, and tea alongside baked goods from a Batavia-based bakery. Separately, guests can visit and interact with adoptable cats in the roughly 200-square-foot cat lounge.
Who's behind it: Owner Alyssa Biala has a business administration background and three years of shelter volunteer experience with Anderson Humane, along with cat care certifications.
How the lounge works: Guests must make a reservation to visit the cat room, which is capped at eight guests per session. The lounge typically holds eight to 10 cats, staff supervise every session, guests sign a waiver first, and the café is physically separated from the cat lounge by a vestibule with double doors.
Adoption partnership: Kitty Cocoa Café emphasizes that it isn't a shelter, boarding facility, or vet clinic. Partner rescue agencies would handle intake, veterinary care, and adoption applications, while the café gives the cats visibility and a calm space to be seen by potential adopters.
Batavia's code didn't have a category for this kind of business, so the council amended the downtown zoning code to add "Pet Café" as a conditional use and granted Biala a conditional use permit specific to her business.
The building owner is adding storefront windows so passersby can see the cats without stepping inside.
Read more about the planned café in this city agenda document.
The proposed location at 139 First Street.
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