A boutique coffee shop is making a name for itself in Philadelphia, and a move to a new home is set to fuel its next chapter.
Mad Cat Brewtique, owned by mother-daughter duo Traci and Cassidy Fairey, will relocate from 2227 Grays Ferry Ave. to 2036 Sansom St. across the street from Helium Comedy Club.
“The location we were at was beautiful, and we adored our neighbors on both sides, but it came down to foot traffic. Center City has more consistency. There’s a lot of apartments and people living there, but also tourists and people passing through,” Cassidy told What Now Philadelphia.
Opening in Center City carries added significance.
“We were looking at a few other places in Center City, but this one is especially fun because it’s now on Philly’s funniest block. I felt like our menu is kind of out there, theatrical and dramatic, and brings in humor,” she said.
The space also housed a coffee shop in the 1950s with a mission shared by Mad Cat Brewtique.
“It was called Humoresque. It was known as a safe haven for queer and interracial couples to come and hang out. It felt full circle to take over that space. We want to build the community and that feeling of safety already embedded in our business, and bring it back to the building,” Cassidy said.
The vision for Mad Cat Brewtique first brewed when Cassidy dreamed of owning a coffee shop as a teenager.
“When I was 12 or 13, there was this quirky little place. They had cheese tables, stacks of board games, open mic nights. It was the ultimate place. You felt so cool, and all your friends wanted to hang out there with good drinks and snacks. I think, just from that, I always wanted to open my own coffee shop,” she said.
The new location will mirror the previous shop’s boutique, featuring clothing, accessories, art and home goods, along with its coffee concept, but with more space. Additionally, the space will double as a bookstore, with independently woman-owned romance bookstore Page Burners opening on the lower level.
“We have this open, long space. It definitely enables a lot more freedom and comfortability to have a line, but also let people still browse and shop,” she said.
The cafe menu features classic coffee and espresso drinks alongside signature creations. Standouts include the “Fluffy Eagle Latte” with peanut butter and fluff, the “That Dubai Jawn Latte,” inspired by Dubai chocolate, and “The Summer I Turned Gritty,” made with espresso, blood orange and tonic.
Cassidy looks forward to joining the Center City community.
“I’m excited that we’re finally in the location where I’m thinking we can really thrive to our potential,” she said. “We’re also close enough to our old location that a lot of familiar faces who have become our regulars are still willing to make the trip here, while also building relationships with new people in the neighborhood.”
Mad Cat Brewtique plans to host soft openings ahead of its grand opening. The shop will officially open once Page Burners completes construction so the two businesses can debut together.
Visit the website and follow along on Instagram and Facebook for the latest updates.
