Editor’s Note: This article was written for Mosaic, an independent journalism training program for high school students who report and photograph stories under the guidance of professional journalists.
Tucked away on The Alameda near Santa Clara University, a new small business is bringing cats, coffee and Korean culture together for the first time in the Bay Area.
Guests drink freshly brewed coffee and enjoy pastries at the Nabi Cat Cafe. The pastel and butter-yellow walls create a warm and gentle atmosphere. Wall-mounted side tables line the right side of the cafe, while the left is occupied by the ordering station and a menu board filled with variety.
Down a hallway and up the stairs, a room filled with cozy modern furniture provides a comfortable space for cats and guests. The back of the cafe features many kittens ranging from 4 months to 6 months old. Guests can play with the kittens with the cat toys provided, or just socialize with the kittens. A $28 cat lounge pass gets each customer an hour of play time with the kitties and one cafe drink.
The cafe was founded by Korean American sisters-in-law Christine Hedeen and Ailee Kim, who previously were a merchant manager for a grocery chain and a human resource professional, respectively. The cafe’s name Nabi means butterfly in Korean, and is also a common nickname in Korea for stray cats.
The cafe owners wanted to incorporate their love for cats, coffee and their culture.
“We wanted to melt our culture into your dreams,” Kim said.
Interior design and the color scheme were Korean-inspired as well.
“They use a lot of yellow and pastel colors,” Kim said.
The first cat cafe opened in Taiwan in 1998, spreading to Korea, where they are now a common part of the cafe scene. Korean pop culture — which includes K-dramas, television series, K-pop stars and other entertainers — has made its way to Santa Clara.
Hedeen and Kim want their customers to indulge in Korean-inspired pastries and drinks. Kim said, “Explaining our culture never gets tiring.”
For instance, they tell customers that the yakgwa einspanner drink incorporates the cinnamon and brown sugar flavor of a traditional Korean honey cookie. The jeju matcha latte draws from JeJu Island in Korea, known for its vibrant green tea, and the Jolly Pong cereal latte is based on a popular Korean puffed-grain snack.
Since opening March 3, the cafe has attracted some customers who bring gifts.
Kim said, “A lot of people had already followed us on social media and they gave us small gifts, such as a little kitten balloon that stayed on the wall for a month.”
Nabi Cat Cafe’s owners say the cat lounge is usually at 90% to 95% capacity.
“The cafe’s staff and cultural perspective brings a comfortable feeling to the work space,” said employee Emily Rousseau. The steady pace of the cafe makes the whole process a lot smoother and more flexible.
“It’s a lot less stressful compared to other cafes, and it’s also nice to go on break and relax with cats all day,” said Rousseau.
Sufia Ainechi, a repeat customer who has patronized cat cafes in other cities, said she enjoys her experience with Nabi Cat Cafe, calling their customer service “a 10 out of 10.”
“I can tell they put a lot of effort into the cultural aspect of what they are serving and how they serve it. I just love, like, their different options, like the chestnut latte, the matcha latte,” said Ainechi.
Kim hopes other small businesses will incorporate their own cultures.
“We want to further our kindness and help other small businesses get started in their journeys,” she said. “I have received some emails for advice, which I am happy to see.”
Grayson LaBarreare is a member of the class of 2026 at Christopher High School in Gilroy.
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