Knoxville has several cafes to indulge in for the fall weather, but there recently was a new addition to the mix — Cleo’s Cat Cafe.

This cafe is in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, at 134 Bus Terminal Road. It’s about 30 minutes from campus, but the drive is worthwhile. Customers can sip delicious drinks and be surrounded by cozy cats.

Jack Christiansen, the owner and manager of the cafe as well as a UT alum, spoke on why Oak Ridge was the ideal location for the kitty lounge.

“We chose Oak Ridge to be closer to family who have been tremendously supportive of Cleo’s Cat Cafe,” Christiansen said.

Since their grand opening on Sunday, Nov. 24, the shop has already exploded with new customers ready to be accompanied by cats of all different kinds.

The venue was completely transformed into a new cat-central haven. The space is filled with cat decor, including pillows, cat scratching posts, cubbies and wall-mounted steps for the cats to climb.

“More than anything, we want to have a welcoming atmosphere at Cleo’s. We really believe in the importance of creating safe and inclusive spaces,” Christiansen said. “We’ve put a lot of thought into the ambiance of our space and have had several customers mention it in their reviews.”

The cafe resembles an authentic home for the cats, allowing them to adjust to that environment and new people.

“What we heard most from our customers was that they appreciate the way the cafe was set up and that they love spending time with our kitties,” Autumn Ramsey, the assistant manager, said.

Named after the Egyptian queen Cleopatra, the cafe was brought to life through a collaboration between Christiansen and Ramsey.

“Autumn had dreamed of opening a cat cafe for years, and I fell in love with the idea because what could be better than spending every day surrounded by cats with your person,” Christiansen said.

Ramsey said that it only took a couple of years to make the cat cafe a reality, as she has aspired to initiate a business like this for some time now.

Opening a business in a new location can be a complex process as it includes extensive planning and other vital tasks. Christiansen spoke on his advice to those who are thinking about opening their own cafe or restaurant.

“Do your research and know what you’re getting into because it’s not a side project,” Christiansen said. “Be as involved in your community as you can and realize that there will be tons of things you don’t know and need help or advice for.”

The cafe’s menu includes a variety of options, including nutritious smoothies, sweet coffees and boba teas. Two local businesses that served the cafe on its opening day were Old South Candy and Coal Creek Coffee Roasters.

“We wanted to work with local businesses, so we reached out to a few and were able to locally source our coffee beans and baked goods,” Ramsey said. “We also sell artwork and handcrafted merchandise from local businesses.”

Each purchase from their menu is one step closer to giving a cat a permanent home — about a quarter of their profits support animals in need in shelters.

Since the opening, Casper, a white cat, has been adopted at the shop. If customers are unable to adopt a cat, stopping by to give the cats some attention or even buying some of their products will be a great way to support these felines.

Cleo’s Cat Cafe is open Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 1-6 p.m., and it is closed on Mondays — because “Mondays suck,” according to their website.