The Green Cat has a new chapter at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. In an October 26 report for VEER Magazine, writer Marisa Marsey reported that founder Jacki Welch sold the original café to Mathieu Huovinen in August 2026. Marsey describes Huovinen as a retired Navy diver medic and the brand’s first franchisee. The reported transfer connects an established local food business with a new owner and a broader franchise ambition.
A local café with plans beyond one storefront
The Green Cat’s own franchise website is actively inviting prospective operators to inquire. It outlines an application process, training and preparation, opening support and continuing assistance. That public invitation makes franchising part of the company’s current business direction, rather than simply an idea mentioned in a restaurant story.
For regular customers, the immediate question is what they can order at the familiar Pacific Avenue address. For entrepreneurs, the story raises a different question: how does a local café grow beyond its original storefront? A franchise program turns the menu, operating routines and customer experience into something another owner must be able to deliver. The Green Cat now has both a consumer website and a separate place for prospective operators to begin that conversation.
What to try at the Pacific Avenue café
The official menu provides several ways to build a visit. Smoothies and smoothie bowls anchor the selection, alongside juices made to order. Savory choices include a Southwest salad, avocado toast with cashew pesto, and pinto bean and lentil chili. Oatmeal, coffee and tea give the menu a breakfast route as well.
Our suggestion: decide whether you want a quick drink, a bowl or a more substantial lunch before ordering. A family stop can start with the children’s smoothie choices; a midday visit can lean toward salad or chili. Check the current menu for ingredients and available choices when you order.
Plan your visit
The Green Cat is at 3801 Pacific Avenue, Virginia Beach. Its website lists café and retail hours of 7 a.m.–6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Online pickup ordering is linked from the site, and the café also carries artisan gifts.
A morning drink or lunch here can be one stop in a wider Oceanfront outing. Check the posted hours before setting out, particularly around holidays, and use the pickup link if you want to order ahead.
See Green Cat’s current menu · Call 757-417-7377 · Explore its franchise information
Keep exploring with CVA’s Virginia Beach guide and local dining coverage.
Checked November 2, 2026. Ownership reporting: Marisa Marsey in VEER Magazine. Menu, hours and business information: The Green Cat and its official franchise website.
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