“The Heroes and Villains exhibition at the Arlington Museum of Art inspired this story because the difference she makes in cats’ lives makes her a hero.”
Business owner saves 311 lives by opening Catfe
ABOUT MY ONE MINUTE DOCUMENTARY
By Mia Medellin
Owner Brandie Retana did some soul-searching during the COVID-19 pandemic after
years of working in corporate America. She had always been around cats her entire life,
but owning a business never came to mind. Until one day she had the thought, “Why
not you.” The Cozy Catfe opened its doors in December of 2021. Her goal was to save
cats from surrendering at shelters. The Heroes and Villains exhibition at the Arlington
Museum of Art inspired this story because the difference she makes in cats’ lives makes
her a hero.
When visiting the Cozy Catfe guests spend $15 to unwind and play with adoptable
kitties. Entry to the Catfe comes with a free beverage from their self-serve coffee
station. At the moment all proceeds made go straight back into the business and this is
so all the cats at the store can have enough kitty litter, food, and any other necessities
to keep them comfortable until they find their forever home.
Being that the Catfe does not make much profit Retana has implemented ways to make
extra income to help keep the place running overall. The Cozy Catfe hosts various
events monthly to help with any extra fees. Some popular events hosted are game
nights like bingo nights, bunco, and trivia nights. More events to experience at the cozy
Catfe are a Bridgerton-inspired Tea Party and even a Rocky Horror Murder Mystery
Party. Entry per event varies but typically ranges around $20-$40. You can learn more
about events hosted at the Catfe by visiting their website,
https://www.thecozycatfe.com/.
One thing that Retana had in mind as well when opening the Cozy Catfe was a targeted
audience of college students and teachers. This group is welcome to walk into the store
with their school ID and get admission for 25% off. She does this because she
understands the stress behind being in school and it is her way to give back. Guests
can even rent out a private study room to get work done while enjoying the company of
kitties to love while working. Retana also offers a party room or event room for guest to
host their special events.
Meet Mia Medellin
Mia Medellin is pursuing her journalism and broadcasting degree at the University of Texas at Arlington. During her time there, she’s had the opportunity to work with the Arlington Sentinel News, covering diverse stories about local businesses and its diverse community.
She also hosts a weekly newscast on UTA Radio covering everything from campus to local and national news. She is also a proud member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority, where she actively advocates for fostering healthy relationships. Looking forward, she aspires to continue her education.
About AMA+UTA CreateCollab
Throughout the Fall 2024 semester, the Arlington Museum of Art is partnering with The University of Texas at Arlington and a senior-level digital storytelling class to explore a wide variety of contemporary themes inspired by the museum’s mission, values, and exhibitions.
Class projects include photo essays, one-minute documentaries, and one-minute podcasts about themes as broad as creating detailed flower arrangements, a life saving cat cafe, everyday heroes, and environmental art.
Associate Professor of Communication Erika Pribanic-Smith, who teaches the class, values opportunities to bring real-world experiences to her students.
“My goal is to give my students real-world experience in all of my classes, creating real stories using real sources,” said Dr. Pribanic-Smith. “Creating stories that will be published for the public to see, not just submitted for a grade, gives students extra incentive to put forth their best effort. Furthermore, working with professionals gives the students another layer of feedback to reinforce what they’re learning in the classroom. I prefer to work with organizations like the Arlington Museum of Art who will benefit in some way from the students’ content so that we are providing a service to the community.”
