PETERSBURG — A bar cat serves as inspiration for a new restaurant. Restaurateur Kathleen "Kat" McCay's goal is to open Loco Kitty by the end of summer in the former DJ's Java Joint in Petersburg.
Old Towne's Alibi, McCay's first restaurant, is conveniently located right next door.
"I am over the moon excited to bring our love of street tacos and margaritas to Old Towne," McCay said. "It has been a baby seed floating around in the back of our minds for a long time."
McCay and her fiance Scott Stanley, Old Towne's Alibi service manager, are excited to have the opportunity to see their idea come to life.
Everyone always asks McCay, "Why Old Towne?"
"We love Old Towne. We love our awesome neighboring businesses, the beautiful vibes, and the Petersburg community as a whole," McCay said. "The community is very good to us and it allows us to be able to reciprocate and put so much good back into the community."
In September, Stanley presented McCay with the 10-inch ceramic cat. She loves it and has displayed it proudly on the bar at Old Towne's Alibi ever since. However, McCay's cat has been known to slip outside and prowl around a bit.
"It spawned many conversations throughout the fall. Crazy conversations and serious conversations," McCay posted on Facebook. "Between my love of margs and his love of street corn, we started plotting a course."
Social Butterfly cooks wild mushroom: Chicken of the woods: Reporter sells discovery to Petersburg farmer for easy money
By the end of 2021, Loco Kitty was born. In January, McCay, Stanley and the Old Towne's Alibi team began to play around with street tacos for feedback and for fun.
"Many months of developing menu items and behind-the-scenes work paved the way to make Loco Kitty a reality," McCay said.
Tacos, chicharrones, Mexican street corn, and carnitas are a few of Loco Kitty's menu items.
Tropical Carnitas will be served with house, pineapple-mango salsa, house pork, avocado, and fresco cheese.
According to McCay, polo loco made with corn tortillas, chipotle chicken, fresco cheese, shredded lettuce, house pico, and house crema quickly became a staff favorite at Old Towne's Alibi.
Champion seller: Italian sausage: Chester Dominic's of New York: Fernando Rodriguez cooks with his heart for Lowe's shoppers
Vegan and gluten-free
"Diners will have the option to order tacos with flour or corn tortillas," McCay said. "All of our options served on corn tortillas are gluten-free as well as our nachos and salads."
Loco Kitty's vegan tacos will be made with chipotle-seasoned cauliflower, house pico, black beans, fresh avocado, and diners' tortillas of choice.