Concord’s cat cafe opens this weekend — how to get reservations.
2020 was a big year for Mac Tabby Cat Café. In March, it celebrated its 300th adoption. In July, it pulled off the purr-fect surprise engagement. In October, it announced its new location that will open in historic downtown Concord.
Now, here comes 2021’s adventures: Mac Tabby Concord will open on Saturday, May 1, 2021. You can book your reservation now on its website. (As of this posting, time slots were still available for opening day.)
Concord will be Mac Tabby’s second location, a milestone three years in the making since opening its flagship location in Area 15 in 2017. While walkable, artsy NoDa is now home to the original cat cafe, owner Lori Konawalik is confident that Concord is the ideal spot for its second home.
“Concord has a pedestrian-friendly historic downtown that features independently-owned shops and unique experiences — it’s a perfect fit,” Konawalik said. “Mac Tabby was founded on the unique idea of bringing together good energy, good people, great coffee, craft beer and cats. We can’t wait to be part of the Concord small business community.”
New location, same cuddly concept
The new Mac Tabby location will live in a historic building — originally built in 1890 — on Market Street, less than 5 miles off of I-85. While downtown Concord is known for its historic districts, there’s a proposal for a $50 million development project, including both residential and commercial space, that would revitalize Market Street, Union Street and Barbruck Avenue. To preserve the history of the new Mac Tabby location amid the plans for development, Konawalik and her team worked closely with the building’s ownership. The architect will be Joe Epstein from C&S Architecture.
Inside, you’ll find the original oak beams, a bar top handcrafted from 118-year-old heart pine rafters and a refurbished 300-square-foot farmhouse style front porch for outdoor lounging.
“The café will feature many pieces original to this building. Everyone involved in the project shares a dedication to honoring the past, while building something new,” Konawalik said.
The space will have the same cozy feel as the NoDa location, complete with a cafe and a cat lounge, where twelve adoptable cats roam, purr and await patrons ready to play and cuddle. In the cafe, you’ll find specialty drinks, smoothies, local craft beer, ciders, prosecco, wine and more.
“It’s half cats, half coffee, and one amazing experience,” Konawalik said.
Mac Tabby Cat Cafe
Market Street, Downtown Concord
Opening in late 2020
Instagram: @mactabbycatcafe
Editor’s note: This article was originally published in October 2020 and has been updated.
This story was originally published October 2, 2020 at 1:46 PM.
