Northland Notes

Client Story, Promise Act Opportunity and Closed Loans

Wired Whisker: northeast Minnesota’s first cat cafe

a series of three photos in the first a crown of people stands outside the a small brick building with yellow trim and a big wired whisker cats coffee cafe sign. misha smith is in the center cutting a red ribbon. the center photo shows the open concept cafe area with an order counter and selection of snacks. the last photo is a close up of a black and white cat being petted by amanda in the enclosed cat lounge room.
From left: Misha Smith cut the ribbon on her new venture this spring. The cafe serving beverages and snacks is separate from an enclosed cat lounge. Amanda Vuicich meets a furry friend.

The story behind Wired Whisker is one of both hustle and heart. Misha Smith worked full time in tech marketing by day while volunteering after-hours with animal rescue organizations. This past year, Smith landed on the purr-fect way to meld her two passions into one cool business.

Cat cafes, introduced in Asia, are gaining popularity in the U.S. They pair the low-key atmosphere of a coffee shop with the option to interact with four-legged friends. Wired Whisker not only cultivates calm – pets are proven mood-boosters – it also directly supports cat shelter and adoption.

It was a fast track. Smith found a building in Duluth’s Endion neighborhood and set to work. She and her family (her dad is a general contractor) renovated top to bottom. She closed on the sale in November and opened Wired Whisker in June.

Several regional organizations contributed financing and technical assistance: Northland Foundation, Member’s Cooperative Credit Union, Entrepreneur Fund, and City of Duluth 1200 Fund. Northland participated in a term loan originated and serviced by MCCU.

“There is such a strong resource network for small businesses in our region, this project being a great case in point.” — Amanda Vuicich, Northland Foundation Small Business Lender

“We were able to apply U.S. Department of Treasury CDFI capital since the building is located in a qualified census tract,” explained Amanda Vuicich, who worked with Misha and financing partners to pull the loan package together.

northland foundation staff members michael colclough and amanda vuicich stand in a bright indoor area listening to misha smith talking. They are just outside the cat lounge and there is a large arched window into the lounge. two people sit at a table outside the window waiting for their turn to enter the lounge.
In the waiting area between the cafe and
cat lounge, Smith (right) describes to
Michael and Amanda the rescue mission
behind the fun coffee-and-cats theme.

The coffee shop is up front, separate from the enclosed cat lounge in back. There’s also a pet friendly patio. The divided design meets health and safety guidelines and helps maintain a stress-free environment for both cats and humans. People wanting a feline-fix can book lounge time online for a minimal fee or even take a yoga-with-cats class. The shop is staffed by a half dozen employees serving hot and cold beverages plus treats from a local bakery.

Cats-in-residence (preparing or currently up for adoption) are are brought in from several rescue organizations which help manage adoptions. Smith is introducing a volunteer program, too, and adding beer and wine to the menu.

In its first two months in business alone, countless cups of coffee and tea were consumed, and 10 adoptable cats found new homes. Hustle and heart. Wired Whisker is open 7 AM-7 PM Tuesday through Sunday (closed Mondays) at 1823 E. Superior Street, Duluth.

Low-interest Promise Act Loans

The Northland Foundation has available 3% small business loans of up to $500,000 for owner-occupied commercial construction and rehabilitation projects.

Capital is made available through the State of Minnesota’s Promise Loan Program. Eligible borrowers must have been in business at least since 2021 and had less than $1 million in revenues as shown on their 2021 tax returns. Contact Amanda Vuicich or Michael Colclough for more details. Loans can be used for:

  • Land Acquisition, Development, Redevelopment
  • Demolition, Site Preparation
  • Predesign, Design, Engineering
  • Repair, Renovation of Real Property, Capital Improvements, Relocation

Over $1 million in loans support growth

Four area businesses and two regional nonprofit organizations recently closed on financing totaling $1,046,302.

  • Bake of the Woods, International Falls
  • Hawkins Hauling, Duluth
  • North Country Directional Drilling, Warba
  • Eye Clinic North, Virginia
  • Second Harvest Northland, Duluth
  • North St. Louis County Habitat for Humanity, Virginia

To learn more about Business Services and all the financing tools available, please email Amanda Vuicich or Michael Colclough.

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

From traditional, ancestral & contemporary lands of Ojibwe, Dakota, Northern Cheyenne & other Native people. See a more detailed acknowledgement of this land and its history.

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