The Shabby Tabby Cat Café moved to its spacious new digs on Main Street and had their official ribbon-cutting ceremony, held by the Greater Sayville Chamber of Commerce, on Saturday, May 2.
Remembering the initial opening of the Shabby Tabby Cat Café, chamber president Eileen Tyznar said, “When I first heard about the Shabby Tabby Cat Café opening, I thought we had another restaurant. When I walked in and found out it was actually cats, I was even more excited than when it was a restaurant!”
Since opening three years ago, the café has gotten over 630 cats adopted, many of whom were “red collar cats” from kill shelters who had low expectations of being taken into a home.
Owner Ryan Shea brought her 15-year-old rescue cat, Olive, to the ribbon-cutting ceremony and received some much-loved petting from Legis. Anthony Piccirillo, who had to leave the event early for a food drive in Holbrook.
Olive is a bit of an Instagram influencer, with regular videos of her unique eating habits posted online.
During the ceremony, she looked cool and collected as she surveyed the outdoors of the new café space.
Longtime volunteer Karen Ann Miglino, who devotes her time to the café every Saturday said, “I started volunteering because I love cats. I could never have one as a kid because of allergies. I started volunteering to take my mind off of things and found it very stress relieving. I wound up adopting the hardest cat to get adopted at the café—extra-feisty Bootsy is now the love of my life and has kitty brothers and sisters. It’s the best feeling ever. It fills my heart and soul with complete joy.”
Tyznar said of the unique business, “It makes it a destination because it’s a one-of-a-kind establishment. It brings people in from so many other towns and once they’re here, they discover Main Street. And now that they’re closer to downtown Main Street, people can walk to here.”
Piccirillo said, “It was a wonderful morning, welcoming the Shabby Tabby Cat Café to their new location on our wonderful Main Street in Sayville. I hope residents will stop in to relax and see the many adorable cats. I wish them years of continued success.”
With the ample new space, the café now features an extensive merch collection with T-shirts, key chains, water bottles, and other must-haves for the cat-lover.
The actual cat station is divided with a full wall, but there is an expansive viewing window for those who would rather just peep in on the playful kitties.
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