By Amy Crawford

Cats and Dogs is located at 4059 Penn Avenue.

Nixi Cat Chesnavich was walking down the street with a friend, brainstorming ideas for a type of community meeting space when the perfect idea popped in his head.

“What do I know how to do and what do I like to do?” he said. “Coffee!”

Consequently, Cats and Dogs Coffeehouse was created and opened this past August. The shop is located at 4059 Penn Avenue in Lawrenceville and is open weekdays from 6:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Chesnavich, also known as Mr. Cat, owns the shop and gets help from his spouse, Mr. Dog, who declined to give his human name. The couple has long been known as Mr. Cat and Mr. Dog, which is how the name came about for the shop.

Mr. Cat said that although the coffee is important, it’s not the driving force behind the shop.

“It’s way more about the people who come here and the things that they can do with the space. The coffee is sort of the dance we do to fund it,” he said.

The shop’s menu is simple, with a focus on beverages like coffee and tea.

“I was really trying to focus on having high quality beverages because that’s what I know and love,” said Mr. Cat.

The shop brews Commonplace Coffee Company’s beans and a coffee is just $1.87. Other drinks include mocha (either dark or white) for $3.74, a cappuccino for $3.27, an Americano for $2.57, and a latte for $3.27. Many of these drinks can be flavored with Torani syrups as well.

Cats and Dogs also offers smoothies for $3.27, Italian sodas for $1.87, and fresh pressed lemonade or limeade for $2.10.

A variety of white, green, black, red and herbal teas are also available for $1.87.

Cats and Dogs does offer some light snack items including biscotti and rum cake from Anna Marie’s Specialties as well as muffins, gluten-free chips and candy, which generally cost between one and two dollars.

Josh Kablack, of Lawrenceville, is a regular customer of Cats and Dogs. He really enjoys their fresh pressed lemonade and the “friendlier” atmosphere of the shop.

Cats and Dogs does offer free Wi-Fi internet and Mr. Cat hopes that people will come and stay a while to enjoy the “calm, quiet, study-oriented venue.”

Mr. Dog hears from many of their guests that it’s their “secret place of productivity,” which he was very flattered by.

“It is an awesome place to study and do work. We have a little bunch of regulars that come in with their notebooks,” he said.

Rob Cullen, of Garfield, was sipping coffee while on his laptop this past Wednesday afternoon.

“It’s a relaxing place to hang out,” he said, where he likes to bring his laptop to take advantage of the free Wi-Fi. He also enjoys the brighter than usual atmosphere, thanks to the large window in the front of the shop.

Cats and Dogs offers features photography and paintings on the walls.

Cats and Dogs also has a back room that is available as a meeting space by appointment. It’s free of charge to use the space and it’s perfect for small community, business or student groups to gather and relax for a while.

The atmosphere is simple but a few colorful paintings and photographs from local artists adorn the walls. Mr. Cat enjoys giving local artists exposure and on Friday, December 10, Toni Gigante was at the shop to show off her photography and paintings. He hopes to have more art openings in the future like this one.

As for the future of the shop, Mr. Cat said that this “tiny idea” he had for a place like this is still evolving. He does hope to add couches in the back room someday but as far as use of the space, he’ll let it evolve itself.

“I just made the venue. I trust that the community would fill it up with what it would want to have happen here.”