Latest news with #CatCafe
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Topeka Cat Café helps 440 cats find forever homes
TOPEKA (KSNT) – The Topeka Cat Café is capping off its first year in business with special giveaways this summer as it celebrates helping more than 400 local felines find new homes. Toni Fowler and April Liang, co-founders of the Topeka Cat Café, are celebrating their one-year anniversary this July with giveaways and special events. The women say they have brought in thousands of visitors over the first year and helped 440 cats get adopted. The Topeka Cat Café, together with the local rescue organization Team Kitten, have used the new business to get cats connected with new owners. Guests who visit the café are encouraged to de-stress with the resident cats and consider adopting one or two. What to know for Fiesta Topeka 2025 'It's hard to believe it's already been a year and helping so many cats find their forever homes in that time has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life,' Fowler said. 'We started Topeka Cat Café with a deep love for cats and a vision to create a space where people could de-stress and connect. Seeing the community embrace that vision has been really incredible, and we'd like to say a huge thank you to Team Kitten for helping us make it happen.' Fowler and Liang are giving back to the community with some activities and giveaways during July. These include the following: Gift card giveaways – free to enter and no purchase is required. Weekly photo contest – post a photo on social media with a secret hashtag revealed at the door for a chance to win prizes each week. VIP night experience – a limited-ticket event with snacks, drinks, gift bags and exclusive time with cats in the lounge. Open to people who are 15-years-old or older. Surprise giveaways – cat-themed merchandise, free lounge visits and more. You can find the Topeka Cat Café at 400 Southwest 29th Street in Suite H. You can learn more about what the business has to offer by checking it out on Facebook, Instagram or heading to its website. For more information on the one year specials being offered at the café, click here. New gas station, convenience store may be coming to east Topeka For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cat cafe on Niagara Street set to close next month
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — A popular cat cafe on Niagara Street is closing its doors in mid-June. Buckminster's Cat Cafe at 577 Niagara St. will be closing on June 15, according to a Facebook post by owner Molly Hutton. Hutton said the cafe's lease is expiring and that 'it's just time for me to move on to other things.' The cafe has been a staple in the community since November 2019. They offer locally roasted, coffee, tea and small plates, as well as a cat zone where visitors can reserve spots to spend time with furry friends from Second Chance Sheltering Network. Hutton said cats up for adoption will be available until closing day and the rescue's two PetSmart locations will house the cats after June 15. Nearly 1,000 cats have been adopted from the cafe since 2019. Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Singapore Law Watch
20-05-2025
- Business
- Singapore Law Watch
Can rent control protect small businesses?: Opinion
Can rent control protect small businesses?: Opinion Source: Business Times Article Date: 20 May 2025 Author: Sharon See If such a term is unpalatable in Singapore's free-market economy, then consider it 'tenant protection'. Last year, the number of food and beverage (F&B) business closures in Singapore hit a 20-year high at 3,047, and it is showing no signs of slowing. Average monthly closures in the first quarter this year are already above 300. In recent weeks, several of them have made the news: Flor Patisserie is closing its Siglap outlet after a 57 per cent hike in rent; the Cat Cafe at The Rail Mall is bowing out after facing a 50 per cent rental increase. Such eye-watering increases raise the question of how much rent is too much, and whether the government needs to intervene – even if it has espoused the merits of a free market for years. To be sure, a free market allows resources to be allocated efficiently, keeping the market competitive and preventing prices from being artificially distorted. However, a free market also engenders a competitive environment that may sometimes disadvantage smaller players. Corporations driven by greed would be inclined to maximise profit, sometimes at the expense of public interest. Of course, landlords, as investors in the commercial property, would no doubt want to seek higher returns to recover their funds, but this surely needs to be done within reasonable limits. In some cases, some landlords are even willing to leave their property empty until they have found a tenant willing to pay what they are asking for. A key question here is whether we consider small businesses as having intangible benefits for the public that are worth protecting. Recall your favourite cafes, bakeries and mom-and-pop shops. Unlike large chain stores, the shop owners are often embedded in the day-to-day running of their businesses, becoming a familiar fixture of the neighbourhood. Over the years, they not only sell their bakes and wares, but also grow into a favourite joint for neighbours, helping to foster a sense of community while adding character and charm. They are also an expression of the Singaporean entrepreneurial spirit, and their owners should be celebrated for taking the leap to start their businesses despite knowing full well the city-state's high-cost environment – from rental to manpower to ingredients. This is why, when yet another home-grown business succumbs and an international chain – whether a fast-food joint, a bubble tea store or a mala hotpot restaurant – takes over the space, or worse, if the space is then left empty, we should question if we are losing something more profound. If the idea of 'rent control' is unpalatable in Singapore's free-market economy, then consider this 'tenant protection'. Government intervention in this case would not be about protecting unviable businesses – since in this case, they have presumably been operating sustainably until a rental hike puts them out of business. Rather, the aim should be to create a fairer system that does not give errant landlords free rein to do as they please. At a time when the cost of living is elevated, ensuring rent does not spiral out of control also helps to keep a lid on prices. Some ideas to consider are imposing a percentage cap on the amount of rent increase that landlords can impose, or regulations to prevent landlords from unilaterally raising rent without prior agreement. An even lighter touch would be to only impose such regulations in special zones outside the Core Central Region or similar prime areas, so that small shops are at least given a chance to thrive in the neighbourhood. Source: The Business Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction. Print
Business Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Business Times
Can rent control protect small businesses?
[SINGAPORE] Last year, the number of food and beverage (F&B) business closures in Singapore hit a 20-year high at 3,047, and is showing no signs of slowing. Average monthly closures in the first quarter this year are already above 300. In recent weeks, several of them have made the news: Flor Patisserie is closing its Siglap outlet after a 57 per cent hike in rent; the Cat Cafe at The Rail Mall is bowing out after facing a 50 per cent rental increase. Such eyewatering increases raise the question of how much rent is too much, and whether the government needs to intervene – even if it has espoused the merits of a free market for years. To be sure, a free market allows resources to be allocated efficiently, keeping the market competitive and preventing prices from being artificially distorted. However, a free market also engenders a competitive environment that may sometimes disadvantage smaller players. Corporations driven by greed would be inclined to maximise profit, sometimes at the expense of public interest. Of course, landlords, as investors in the commercial property, would no doubt want to seek higher returns to recover their funds, but this surely needs to be done within reasonable limits. In some cases, some landlords are even willing to leave their property empty until they have found a tenant willing to pay what they are asking for. A NEWSLETTER FOR YOU Tuesday, 12 pm Property Insights Get an exclusive analysis of real estate and property news in Singapore and beyond. Sign Up Sign Up A key question here is whether we consider small businesses as having intangible benefits for the public that are worth protecting. Recall your favourite cafes, bakeries and mom-and-pop shops. Unlike large chain stores, the shopowners are often embedded in the day-to-day of their businesses, becoming a familiar fixture of the neighbourhood. Over the years, they not only sell their bakes and wares but also grow into a favourite joint for neighbours, helping to foster a sense of community while adding character and charm. They are also an expression of the Singaporean entrepreneurial spirit, and their owners should be celebrated for taking the leap to start their businesses despite knowing full well the city-state's high-cost environment – from rental to manpower to ingredients. This is why, when yet another home-grown business succumbs, and an international chain – whether a fast-food joint, a bubble tea store or a mala hotpot restaurant – takes over the space, or worse, if the space is then left empty, we should question if we are losing something more profound. If the idea of 'rent control' is unpalatable in Singapore's free-market economy, then consider this 'tenant protection'. Government intervention in this case would not be about protecting unviable businesses – since in this case, they have presumably been operating sustainably until a rental hike puts them out of business. Rather, the aim should be to create a fairer system that does not give errant landlords free rein to do as they please. At a time when the cost of living is elevated, ensuring rent does not spiral out of control also helps to keep a lid on prices. Some ideas to consider are imposing a percentage cap on the amount of rent increase that landlords can impose, or regulations to prevent landlords from unilaterally raising rent without prior agreement. An even lighter touch would be to only impose such regulations in special zones outside the core central region or similar prime areas, so that small shops are at least given a chance to thrive in the neighbourhood.
AsiaOne
02-05-2025
- Business
- AsiaOne
The Cat Cafe at The Rail Mall to shutter in March 2026, some resident cats to be up for adoption, Lifestyle News
Cat lovers in Singapore will have one less haunt to frequent come 2026. In Facebook and Instagram posts uploaded on Tuesday (April 29), The Cat Cafe at The Rail Mall announced news of their upcoming closure — which will happen in March next year. According to The Cat Cafe, the "tough decision" was made mainly due to rising costs. "We have made the tough decision to close The Rail Mall's outlet permanently. Since its opening in May 2020, amidst the Covid-19 lockdown, we have faced challenges, from surviving the pandemic to navigating post-Covid struggles such as 50 per cent increase in rental price, rising supplier costs and increased staff salaries. These above have made it unsustainable to continue operating the outlet," they stated. In response to the closure announcements, many former and regular customers expressed disappointment. "Nooooo, you're my favourite happy place! And my favourite cats are all there. Will wait for your updates on where all the cats will be," one comment read. "So sad to hear this. I had beautiful memories of The Cat Cafe in The Rail Mall. Did most of my university work there, played so much with the cats. But I know they're going to be rehoused with wonderful owners, with such loving and caring staff," another stated. But it's not all doom and gloom. According to the posts, the cafe will be making "every moment count" in their final months with monthly celebrations, promotions and fundraising activities for animal shelters that have supported their journey. [embed] "Let's make these last 10 months at The Rail Mall unforgettable!" they expressed. The Cat Cafe at The Rail Mall is currently home to 14 rescued cats. Most of them will be rehomed with current or former staff members, and some will be placed at the cafe's Bugis outlet. [embed] The cafe also stated that a few of them might be available for public adoption. As of the time of writing, The Cat Cafe at Bugis — which houses 15 rescued cats — will remain open. Address: 392 Upper Bukit Timah Rd, Singapore 678046 Opening hours: 10am to 9pm (weekdays except for Wed), 3pm to 9pm (Wed), 10am to 10pm (weekends) [[nid:688719]]
