[Ed note: This article was updated a couple of times, including shortly after it was posted due to late information coming in.]
After a number of stops and starts, it looked liked Boston would finally get its first cat cafe today, but it was apparently not meant to be.
According to a Facebook post earlier this morning from the place, PURR Cat Cafe had been planning to soft-open in Brighton today, with the Chestnut Hill Avenue spot charging $10 for admission (cash only) for one hour. A more recent Facebook post indicates that this will not be happening, with owner Diane Kelly saying the following:
Due to the amount of concern regarding the cafe I have taken the advice of my consultant to not open today. We will be [focusing] on addressing issues regarding Purr Cat Cafe later this week, answering every question and concern the community has. We will resume business once we have addressed these issues and fixed them appropriately.
It has been a long and (at times) controversial ride for the cafe which was first announced back in the spring of 2016, including a rejection of a permit application, a loss of an adoption partner, public arguments with people on Facebook (including former workers), and opening dates that were pushed back--and its Facebook page has been taken down and put back up at least a few times this year.
The address for PURR Cat Cafe is 167 Chestnut Hill Avenue, Brighton, MA, 02135.
[November 10 update: PURR Cat Cafe has still not opened and now a recent Facebook post shows that the person managing its social media has publicly resigned, saying in the post that "Due to the creative differences I have decided to part ways with the cafe."]
[November 13 update: According to a source (Lynda Damato McConville), Purr Cat Cafe is now planning to open for real on Saturday, November 18, with a Facebook post from the place confirming this. A reservations page shows that the price of admission is now $15 for one hour (as opposed to the $10 for the soft opening which never happened), and it is not known what exactly is included for the $15, so stay tuned as more information comes in.]
[November 16 update: Despite Facebook posts from the place claiming it will open this Saturday, it now appears that the opening is in doubt, as Jason Law of Boston 25 News reports that according to state and city officials, owner Diane Kelly does not have a state license to operate PURR Cat Cafe, she is not meeting with city inspectors or even letting them into the space, and she has also gotten a "cease and desist" order from the Department of Agriculture because she mentioned on Facebook that she imported cats from Italy and Russia.]
[Earlier Article]
A Cat Cafe Plans to Come to Brighton
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[A related post from our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants): List of Restaurant Closings and Openings in the Boston Area]
