When Chez Luna opens at 2929 Main Street in Santa Monica this summer, it will combine two beloved elements — coffee and dogs — into one concept to bring the only adoption cafe in Los Angeles to the public.
For founder Asia Bonetto and co-founder Kris Gunn, the goal of the concept is two-fold: to create a community-oriented space and to connect people with rescue dogs. Gunn told What Now Los Angeles that the cafe environment will take people away from negative associations they might feel at animal shelters and insert the dogs into a positive, community-driven space.
“The reality of it is that the economy is not great and the political sense of the world is all over the place. People don’t really want more negativity,” Gunn said. “So when it comes to Chez Luna, the main goal and purpose was to bring the community together to interact like we used to. You’d sit in a coffee shop and share a table and you’d make friends or come to a community event and meet people. But the underlying side of that is that every visit, every sip, every cup of coffee provides love to foster animals and adopters in the community of Los Angeles. So we’re not only getting coffee served, but we’re serving puppy love daily.”
Originally from Italy, Bonetto lived in Santa Monica when she first moved to Los Angeles. Bonetto’s love for the area and the coastal vibe, as well as their connections with a local rescue there, made Santa Monica the ideal home for Chez Luna to set up shop.
The spot will feature an indoor-outdoor layout with about 2,000 square feet of indoor space and 1,000 square feet of outdoor space. The team is collaborating with architecture firm Monkeyhouse on the design. The outdoor space will offer a community gathering area and the beverage element of the concept. An Airstream on site will serve coffee beverages to customers, and people will be able to bring their own dogs to enjoy the space.
The indoor area will be dedicated to interacting with the rescue and foster dogs. There will be an adoption space and likely a spot for wellness checks for the dogs, as well.
“The two spaces will have very great synergy and harmonization throughout both areas, and we’ll close out different areas for certain events,” Gunn said. “Instead of this being like a dog cafe, we really try to call it an adoption cafe and make it a community-based experience.”
Gunn feels that Chez Luna will appeal to the community when it opens, especially as businesses ranging from gyms to social clubs are searching for creative ways to get people to connect. The versatility of the space is designed to attract a variety of people, ranging from avid dog lovers to the casual coffee drinker who wants their coffee purchase to go toward helping a rescue dog.
As they move forward, they hope to build the number of shelters they collaborate with. Eventually, the team hopes to see the concept take root in other areas beyond Los Angeles.
“I think LA is ready for it. I think the need for adoption and for brand awareness for rescues is there. It just takes a really exciting, different approach,” Gunn said. “We’re not treating this as a cafe or as an adoption center. We’re treating it as a genuine experience that everyone of all ages can enjoy.”
