Entry No. 4 — the Cincinnati file — filed under: records
Lucky Cat Museum
Tucked inside a former clock factory turned artist community in Walnut Hills, this appointment-only sanctuary houses over 2,000 Japanese maneki-neko (beckoning cat) figurines. Floor-to-ceiling glass display cases and wall shelves overflow with vinyl, ceramic, wooden, and motor-operated waving cats collected by founder Micha Robertson.
The story
Micha Robertson picked up her first maneki-neko at an Oklahoma Goodwill in 2001. Shortly after moving to Cincinnati that same year, she discovered Yahoo Japan Auctions and eBay, and what started as an impulse purchase spiraled into a relentless obsession. By 2012, her house had run out of surface area, prompting her to rent Suite 150 inside Essex Studios—a sprawling 1920s brick complex in Walnut Hills that originated as the Herschede clock factory and later housed Hamilton Tailoring Company, where workers stitched green jackets for Masters golf winners.
Today, Suite 150 holds well over 2,000 beckoning cats stacked into floor-to-ceiling glass display cases and wall shelves. The inventory ranges from standard white ceramic felines holding koban coins to motor-operated waving vinyl toys, slot machines, coin-snatching piggy banks, and nail clippers. Look closer and you'll spot oddities that reveal the depth of her hunting: a Vincent Van Gogh-inspired tumbler cat bought off a Japanese auction site, a custom 'Weird Nyal' commissioned from an Argentine artist, an antique specimen dating back to 1852, and a cat so tiny it sits on a single grain of rice.
What it's like
Don't try knocking on the door unannounced; entry is strictly by online booking, with time slots capped at six people for 45 minutes. Inside Suite 150, the atmosphere feels less like a quiet gallery and more like stepping into a collector's private vault where Robertson herself is often on hand to clap her hands and set mechanical plush cats dancing. The sheer visual density of waving paws can give you sensory overload within ten minutes. Once your slot ends, take time to wander the labyrinthine concrete corridors of Essex Studios to peek into open artist workshops.
The move: Reserve a 45-minute afternoon slot to hunt for the weirdest custom-painted and mechanical cats, then wander the surrounding labyrinthine hallways of Essex Studios to peek into open artist workshops.
- 📍 Walnut Hills
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2511 Essex Place #150, Cincinnati, OH 45206
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- Comfort Station — Walk four minutes down the road to grab a craft drink inside a converted 1920s public transit restroom.
- Tiki Tiki Bang Bang — Head half a mile south in Walnut Hills to trade thousands of waving ceramic paws for tropical rum cocktails.
- Lloyd Library & Museum — Head downtown to swap thousands of lucky cat figurines for centuries-old rare botanical and medical texts gathered by eccentric 19th-century brothers.
Good to know
Do I need to make a reservation in advance?
Yes. The museum is appointment-only with time slots limited to six people at a time. You must reserve your slot online before arriving.
How much does admission cost?
Admission is free, though cash or online donations are welcomed to help keep the collection running.
Where in the building is the museum located?
It sits inside Suite 150 of Essex Studios at 2511 Essex Place in Walnut Hills. Follow the interior hallway signage once you enter the former clock factory.
How long does a typical visit take?
Appointment slots are capped at 45 minutes, which gives you plenty of time to examine the shelves and ask questions without crowding.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · ohio.org · cincinnatimagazine.com · wvxu.org
last checked: 2026-07-21