An Inside Scoop of the AlleyCat Coffee House, a Hidden Gem of Old Town Fort Collins
Nestled in behind Coldstone Creamery on Dalzell Alley, a quirky little coffee shop sits lofty among the trees. The AlleyCat Coffee House is a local favorite of many, as people from all walks of life gather to enjoy its fun bohemian atmosphere and infamous chai tea. As a Fort Collins native, I have spent much of my time at the AlleyCat writing articles and catching up with friends over coffee, but it wasn’t until I met with barista Van Dougherty that I came to fully appreciate its authenticity. Dougherty, an 18-year-old from Fort Collins, has worked at the AlleyCat for a year and a half and was excited to share his love for the hidden gem.
Q: What do you like most about working at the AlleyCat?
A: I really enjoy the atmosphere. You get to meet a lot of interesting people that come from different types of cultures and communities. Compared to any other job I’ve had in the past, I’ve met a lot more regulars and have become friends with them as I’ve learned their stories. It’s a really fun, social environment to work in.
Q: I think of the AlleyCat as a hidden gem of Old Town, since it’s eccentric and hard to find. In your opinion, what makes the AlleyCat unique?
A: We are one of the few spots in Fort Collins that is open 24 hours and isn’t a chain restaurant, so there’s always something going on. We also have a really diverse crowd of people that’s made up of students, locals and long-time regulars, who we really try to get to know as well as we can. Take a regular named Jay for example. He drives about 3 hours to come here every Friday, Saturday and occasionally on Sundays to hang out for anywhere from 3–12 hours. He’s a fantastic artist and I never would have gotten to know that if this wasn’t such a social environment. This place is unique because you can be completely open with the people around you without ever having to worry about being ridiculed.
Q: One thing I’ve always loved about the AlleyCat is that it’s covered in amazing artwork. Where does it all come from?
A: The painted ceiling tiles actually have a really cool story behind them. A ton of different people have bought the tiles over time, painted them and then let us hang them back up on the ceiling. Usually it costs about $10 apiece to do it but they’re worth so much more once they’re painted. Most of them are done by local artists but sometimes people who come to visit want to leave their mark as well. The other wall art is usually either donated by local artists or is for sale.
Q: Do you locally source your products as well?
A: Indeed, we do. Some of them are Jackie’s Java, Morning Fresh Dairy, Fort Collins Food Co-Op, Cups Plus Rocky Mountain, Savory Spice Shop, Cliffhouse Kombucha, Gib’s Bagels and Roberto’s Salsa. We have lots of good stuff from small businesses around Colorado.
Q: What would you recommend to first-timers at the AlleyCat?
A: I’d recommend our home-brewed chai either hot or iced. It’s by far the most popular thing on the menu, since we brew it in-house overnight with local ingredients. It gives us so many different combinations. We could do a hot or iced chai either sweet or spiced, we could do a chai shake with either of them, or we could do a Red Eye Cat, which adds in shots of Espresso. Chai is kind of what we’re known for — it differs from that of other places because you can taste the unique flavor that comes from it being made in-house.
Q: Why should people get their chai or coffee at the AlleyCat instead of more convenient places like Starbucks?
A: Most chain restaurants don’t have any unique qualities. There is no variety or individuality to them, whereas you will never find another place quite like the AlleyCat. It’s a great place to study, read a book or spend time with friends. Recently, we’ve even started up what we call “Snug Rug” sessions, which is run by one of my co-workers who’s in a band called Rat Doctor. We turn our enclosed patio into a little concert venue and they play with a few other local bands throughout the night. It’s a great way to get people in the community together for some good coffee and music. I hang out here a lot when I’m not working because I love the food, drinks and the fun atmosphere.
