Katonah’s first library, The Reading Room, operated out of this building from the mid-1800s to the turn of the 20th century. The building later housed a beloved gourmet store, William Nicholas & Company for over two decades.  Its pedigree made it the obvious choice for the Katonah Reading Room, a café which celebrates the marriage of both good food and great books.

This building was moved to make way for the New York City reservoir system, rolled on huge logs to its current location along with many of the buildings of the original Katonah. The library was moved with the books on the shelves, and we love being able to populate those shelves once again with good reads, cookbooks, newspapers, and magazines.

Katonah Reading Room is the natural extension to our sister store, Little Joe’s, a coffee shop and book store with an amazing selection for all ages. The Reading Room shares a love of reading, but branches out and features phenomenal food in an elevated environment.  Settle in with a sandwich, a coffee, a salad, or a scone.  Luxuriate in our comfy chairs, meet a good friend, and take a break from the fast pace of the word.  And, when you’re ready, take home gourmet goods, dinner ingredients, specialty cheeses, meats, chocolates, and treats for everyone.