Richmond community rallies to support flooded The Purrfect Bean with pop-up event

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- After temporarily closing due to flooding caused by a cat named Roller, the community rallied to support The Purrfect Bean, a Richmond cat café, with a pop-up event.

On Saturday, Dec. 6, Jace -- known by the handle @findyourexitplan -- and Alex Na, the "tiramisu guy" from TikTok, hosted a pay-what-you-can pop-up featuring a limited Purrfect Bean and Exit Plan menu collaboration at Byrd Park.

"Richmond yearns for community, and it's a testament [to] that," Na said. "It's cold, not the best weather, we had a snowstorm earlier last week and people still showed up."

Na organizes weekly tiramisu drops for the community that include baked goods and a community potluck. He called Saturday's event a fundraiser to "help pay for staff" for repairs, equipment and "help them get back on their feet" following the flooding.

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

(Photo: Ethan Thompson, 8News)

This comes after the cat café, which initially opened in August at 214 N. Lombardy St. in Richmond's Fan District, announced on Tuesday, Dec. 2, that major flooding had caused a temporary closure of the business.

"Partnering up with The Purrfect Bean was a natural progression of what we needed to do. It's what I stand for - building community, helping people who need," he said. "They've worked with us, we're super generous with their time and their resource. It's our turn as a community to give back to them."

The event featured drinks, recommended prices and merchandise.