Story By: Amanda Boothe
ALABASTER, Ala. — The Lotus Catfe has been open in Alabaster for three years now, reaching its third year open on April 15. However, with new ownership, the Catfe may be facing closure or relocation.
Skye Vallincourt, owner of The Lotus Catfe and founder of Ginger Cat Rescue, opened the business as a yoga studio but with a twist.
“I’m also a yoga instructor. Initially, we also taught yoga, but I had been working at another yoga studio, and it closed, so I was just like, instead of working for someone else, why don’t I just open my own yoga studio? But I was like that’s not enough, it needs something else.” Vallincourt stated.
Over the past three years, the business has reached over 130 adoptions and continues to care for cats through hard work, donations and help from the community.
“That means we have helped out over 130 cats find good homes…this has built like a little community, we have like regulars that come at least once a week who are super supportive.” From Vallincourt.
The business area was sold in October of 2024 to a company called Retail Specialists and is now saying cats are not allowed due to what the catfe lease states.
“When we first came here it was a different landlord and they were totally fine, but we had origanlly wanted to do a like an actual coffee shop, thats technically what our lease says but we did get permission form the first landlord that cats were okay, we have it written down, it’s just not in the lease so that’s what they were talking about, but we showed them all of that, they still did not really want renew our lease but we now back to doing month to month.”
I reached out to the landlords for a comment, but did not receive a response back. Vallincourt expressed that the landlords are concerned about damage for future tenants; they hope to stay, but are looking for other locations.
“They are coming back Monday to take a look because they were saying that cats are unsanitary and they have messed up the place, so I’m assuming they want to scope it out. We are still keeping our eyes open for other spaces.” Said Vallincourt.
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