A cafe where the coffee comes with a side of pugs is coming to Jacksonville. CuppaPug, a pugs-only cafe concept that got its start across the Atlantic, plans to open a location at 14180 Beach Blvd. in November, roughly 3 miles from the Atlantic Ocean near San Pablo Road.
The roughly 2,400-square-foot space is currently in permitting with the City of Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The Jacksonville outpost will be owned by Aaron Pieterse and Matthew, who own the broader CuppaPug business, along with local partner Andrea Nichols, a Jacksonville Beach resident who spent a week studying CuppaPug’s original London operation before signing on. Nichols has spent more than 30 years working in information technology and real estate, per the same account.
CuppaPug offers coffee, treats and time with pugs, and the Jacksonville location will offer visits with resident, alumni and adoptable pugs alongside snacks and drinks. It will also include a retail section featuring t-shirts, bags and items from local artisans and businesses, the Daily Record reports. Customers will be able to bring their own pugs for a discount or drop pugs off for playtime, and reservations will be recommended though walk-ins will be allowed. An entry fee is planned but has not yet been determined.
A Business Built on Direct Ownership, Not Franchising
CuppaPug has operated for four years and now has seven locations spanning Europe and the United States, with its first cafe in London. Rather than franchising, the company uses direct ownership stakes in each new location, according to the report. The brand plans to add sites in Australia, Dubai, Las Vegas, New York and the United Kingdom…