How Tony Wang Turned The Cat Cafe into a $50K/Month Success Story
How Tony Wang Turned The Cat Cafe into a $50K/Month Success Story
Nov 27, 2024
Tony Wang
Tony Wang
⏳ 4 min
⏳ 4 min
Revenue/month
Revenue/month
$50,000
$50,000
$50,000
No. of founders
No. of founders
1
1
1
Startup costs
Startup costs
$100K
$100K
$100K
Company type
Company type
Company type
Service
Service
Service
Contents
Introduction
Introduction
Ever thought about sipping coffee while cuddling with cats? Sounds like a dream, right? Tony Wang made it a reality and turned it into a thriving business. Here’s how he built The Cat Cafe in downtown San Diego and scaled it into a $600,000-a-year venture.
(The Cat Cafe's landing page)
Ever thought about sipping coffee while cuddling with cats? Sounds like a dream, right? Tony Wang made it a reality and turned it into a thriving business. Here’s how he built The Cat Cafe in downtown San Diego and scaled it into a $600,000-a-year venture.
(The Cat Cafe's landing page)
The Birth of The Cat Cafe
The Birth of The Cat Cafe
Back in 2015, Tony and his team opened the doors of The Cat Cafe, Southern California’s first cat cafe and one of the earliest in the United States. Inspired by a buzzworthy trend that started in Paris and later popped up in San Francisco, Tony saw potential in combining handcrafted drinks with adoptable cats.
But this wasn’t a cakewalk. Navigating health codes to mix animals and food was uncharted territory. Yet, with persistence and guidance from health departments and experts, they made it work.
The real kicker? When the doors first opened, business boomed beyond expectations. Media coverage had locals lining up, but the honeymoon period didn’t last forever. Tony had to roll up his sleeves and grow the business from the ground up.
Back in 2015, Tony and his team opened the doors of The Cat Cafe, Southern California’s first cat cafe and one of the earliest in the United States. Inspired by a buzzworthy trend that started in Paris and later popped up in San Francisco, Tony saw potential in combining handcrafted drinks with adoptable cats.
But this wasn’t a cakewalk. Navigating health codes to mix animals and food was uncharted territory. Yet, with persistence and guidance from health departments and experts, they made it work.
The real kicker? When the doors first opened, business boomed beyond expectations. Media coverage had locals lining up, but the honeymoon period didn’t last forever. Tony had to roll up his sleeves and grow the business from the ground up.
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➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
➤ Every week, we dig up stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses—
➤ Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers.
➤ Then, we share those insights with you.
The Blueprint
The Blueprint
Step 1: Find Experts Who Know Their Stuff
To get started, Tony teamed up with a company specializing in building coffee bars. Their credibility not only helped secure health department approval but also provided insights into what works and what doesn’t in such setups.
Step 2: Hunt for the Perfect Location
This was a challenge. Property managers were skeptical of this new, quirky concept. After countless rejections, one landlord finally agreed—but only if Tony paid the first year’s rent upfront. Talk about a leap of faith!
Step 3: Build Fast, Fail Fast, Adapt Faster
The cafe was up and running in just 90 days. Initially, they offered free entry to the cat room with any drink purchase. But people lingered for hours after buying the cheapest item on the menu. The solution? Charging an admission fee with hourly sessions, which turned the business model into a sustainable one.
Step 1: Find Experts Who Know Their Stuff
To get started, Tony teamed up with a company specializing in building coffee bars. Their credibility not only helped secure health department approval but also provided insights into what works and what doesn’t in such setups.
Step 2: Hunt for the Perfect Location
This was a challenge. Property managers were skeptical of this new, quirky concept. After countless rejections, one landlord finally agreed—but only if Tony paid the first year’s rent upfront. Talk about a leap of faith!
Step 3: Build Fast, Fail Fast, Adapt Faster
The cafe was up and running in just 90 days. Initially, they offered free entry to the cat room with any drink purchase. But people lingered for hours after buying the cheapest item on the menu. The solution? Charging an admission fee with hourly sessions, which turned the business model into a sustainable one.
The Launch
The Launch
When The Cat Cafe opened, the media went wild. Local TV stations, newspapers, and social media buzzed with excitement. It resulted in a flood of customers that left the team overwhelmed.
Tony admits they weren’t prepared. The lack of a reservation system and their initial business model created chaos. In hindsight, he says he’d do it all the same but with better systems in place to handle the rush.
When The Cat Cafe opened, the media went wild. Local TV stations, newspapers, and social media buzzed with excitement. It resulted in a flood of customers that left the team overwhelmed.
Tony admits they weren’t prepared. The lack of a reservation system and their initial business model created chaos. In hindsight, he says he’d do it all the same but with better systems in place to handle the rush.
How They Grew
How They Grew
1. Let the Name Do the Talking
The Cat Cafe. It’s straightforward and tells you exactly what to expect. This clarity gives the business an edge in search results. They consistently rank high, even beating Wikipedia for “cat cafe” searches.
2. Leverage Tourist Hotspots
Tourists make up a huge chunk of their clientele. By advertising in local tourist guides found in hotels and the convention center, they ensured steady foot traffic.
3. Master Social Media
Facebook and Instagram became their secret weapons. From organic posts showcasing adorable cats to targeted ads during the pandemic, they used these platforms to keep people engaged. During Covid, personalized ads helped shift focus from tourists to locals, keeping the business alive when tourism dried up.
1. Let the Name Do the Talking
The Cat Cafe. It’s straightforward and tells you exactly what to expect. This clarity gives the business an edge in search results. They consistently rank high, even beating Wikipedia for “cat cafe” searches.
2. Leverage Tourist Hotspots
Tourists make up a huge chunk of their clientele. By advertising in local tourist guides found in hotels and the convention center, they ensured steady foot traffic.
3. Master Social Media
Facebook and Instagram became their secret weapons. From organic posts showcasing adorable cats to targeted ads during the pandemic, they used these platforms to keep people engaged. During Covid, personalized ads helped shift focus from tourists to locals, keeping the business alive when tourism dried up.
The Financial Breakdown
The Financial Breakdown
Tony’s hard work is paying off big time:
Monthly Revenue: $40K–$50K, peaking during major events like Comic-Con.
Annual Revenue: Grew from $200K in year one to over $500K today.
Revenue Sources: 75% from cat room admissions, 25% from food, drinks, and merchandise.
The business remains profitable despite rising labor costs, and Tony goes the extra mile by offering benefits like a 401K to his employees—something rare in the industry.
Tony’s hard work is paying off big time:
Monthly Revenue: $40K–$50K, peaking during major events like Comic-Con.
Annual Revenue: Grew from $200K in year one to over $500K today.
Revenue Sources: 75% from cat room admissions, 25% from food, drinks, and merchandise.
The business remains profitable despite rising labor costs, and Tony goes the extra mile by offering benefits like a 401K to his employees—something rare in the industry.
Overcoming Challenges: Lessons Learned
Overcoming Challenges: Lessons Learned
Tony admits to making mistakes but also learning valuable lessons along the way:
1. Charge for What You’re Worth
Initially, they tried to cater to everyone—even unprofitable customers. When they shifted to charging admission fees, profitability skyrocketed.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
After the 2016 election, business dipped as people felt uncertain. Instead of worrying about things out of his control, Tony doubled down on providing value to those who did visit.
3. Adapt to the Unexpected
Covid hit The Cat Cafe hard. They had to close for over two months, but government programs like PPP loans helped them survive. When tourism vanished, they pivoted to targeting locals, proving resilience in tough times.
Tony admits to making mistakes but also learning valuable lessons along the way:
1. Charge for What You’re Worth
Initially, they tried to cater to everyone—even unprofitable customers. When they shifted to charging admission fees, profitability skyrocketed.
2. Focus on What You Can Control
After the 2016 election, business dipped as people felt uncertain. Instead of worrying about things out of his control, Tony doubled down on providing value to those who did visit.
3. Adapt to the Unexpected
Covid hit The Cat Cafe hard. They had to close for over two months, but government programs like PPP loans helped them survive. When tourism vanished, they pivoted to targeting locals, proving resilience in tough times.
What’s Next for The Cat Cafe?
What’s Next for The Cat Cafe?
Now a mature business, The Cat Cafe is shifting its focus from rapid growth to refining the customer experience. Tony is confident in their niche appeal—targeting cat lovers willing to pay for a unique experience.
Rather than chasing growth for growth’s sake, the team is investing in “small wins” that enhance customer satisfaction.
Now a mature business, The Cat Cafe is shifting its focus from rapid growth to refining the customer experience. Tony is confident in their niche appeal—targeting cat lovers willing to pay for a unique experience.
Rather than chasing growth for growth’s sake, the team is investing in “small wins” that enhance customer satisfaction.
Tony’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Tony’s Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs
Embrace the Hard Work
Tony quotes A League of Their Own:
“Of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.”
Be Ready to Take a Beating
From Captain America:
“I can do this all day.”
Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint-hearted. There will be setbacks, but persistence is key.
Embrace the Hard Work
Tony quotes A League of Their Own:
“Of course it’s hard. It’s supposed to be hard. If it was easy, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great.”
Be Ready to Take a Beating
From Captain America:
“I can do this all day.”
Entrepreneurship isn’t for the faint-hearted. There will be setbacks, but persistence is key.
Final Thoughts
Final Thoughts
Tony Wang’s journey with The Cat Cafe is a masterclass in turning a unique idea into a sustainable, thriving business. His story proves that with the right mix of creativity, grit, and adaptability, even the quirkiest of ideas can become a smashing success.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t The Cat Cafe, Starter Story ⇢ Great resources
Tony Wang’s journey with The Cat Cafe is a masterclass in turning a unique idea into a sustainable, thriving business. His story proves that with the right mix of creativity, grit, and adaptability, even the quirkiest of ideas can become a smashing success.
P.S. I’ve got a weekly newsletter where I share Stories of how regular people started and grew their businesses— Plus the marketing hacks that won them customers. Then, I share those insights with you. I would love for you to join us here
Shoot me a DM if you want to share your story or visit this page to submit your information 💌
- h/t The Cat Cafe, Starter Story ⇢ Great resources
