It was Tucson’s first cat lounge but now it’s going to be the city’s first “cat and coffee shop.” El Jefe Cat Lounge, at 3025 N. Campbell Ave. #141, is stretching out its paws and expanding into a coffee and retail shop.
The coffee and merch store will be located in the next-door suite, #151, while the rambunctious and sleepy cats will remain at #141.
So, what’ll it be? A Capurr-ccino, Latte Meow-cchiato, Catspresso, or an A-meow-ricano? Okay, that’s enough puns for one article but hopefully you had a ball reading that.
“The lease is signed, architects hired, and we are impatiently awaiting to expand into a full-fledged Cat Cafe,” El Jefe Cat Lounge shared on Facebook. “You can help support our opening as soon as possible by continuing to visit the lounge, buying gift certificates, or buying our new, locally roasted coffee.”
So, to get things roasting, the cat lounge has teamed up with Cartel Coffee and they actually have a blend for sale right meow online — their very own El Jefe Cat Cafe Coffee. This coffee blend is an Arizona-roasted, single-origin, Colombian “catfee.” In other words, it’s “chocolate and caramel with an attitude.”
El Jefe Cat Lounge also plans to sell tea in its online store and then inside the shop once that opens (they’re aiming to open in January 2023).
Meanwhile, stop by and check out the critters scampering around at the lounge while enjoying the snacks they’ve got for sale. The cats are available for adoption, too, which is processed by Finally My Forever Home Rescue.
The business was named after a jaguar that’s been spotted on the trails of the Santa Rita Mountains. Folks have been catching glimpses of the big cat since 2011 and a local middle school named him El Jefe, which is Spanish for “the chief” or “the boss.”
Stay tuned for more news about the coffee shop as the ball of yarn unravels.
El Jefe Cat Lounge is open now (minus the coffee) at 3025 N. Campbell Ave. #141. For more information and to stay up to date with the expansion, visit eljefecatlounge.com and follow El Jefe Cat Lounge on Facebook and Instagram.
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Article written by:
Matt Sterner
More about MattAt a very young age, Matt Sterner was gifted with the artistic ability to masterfully roll a burrito to the highest of standards, but the wrapped medley of delicious innards wasn’t his first love. Matt’s first true love was a combination of reading, writing, and creating. He grew up reading comics, the ingredients list of his shampoo and conditioner bottles, choose-your-own-adventure books, and the Scrabble dictionary — something he found useful when challenging his grandmother to a game.
He attended college at New Mexico State University and graduated with a degree in Digital Filmmaking. One of his favorite classes was screenwriting because he became responsible for the story’s birth before it came to life on-screen. After school, Matt took on numerous positions at a local television station in Tucson. From dealing out stories about heartbreak to producing “fluffier” content for a lifestyle broadcast, he learned what it takes to adapt to the many emotions the world of media can stir. Since 2017, Matt has dabbled in the culinary world of Tucson as well as San Diego, California from time to time.
If you’re in the mood for strange stories, head over to his pride and joy, wonkytimes.com. And in case you’re curious — yes, after all of this time, he still manages to roll a killer burrito.
