TODAY marks the one year anniversary of the Reading Room and it's been a little over two years since we purchased Little Joe's, and we think that calls for a little reflection & a LOT of celebration! Just to give you an idea, in the last year we have sold approximately 13,474 books, 8,906 avocado toasts, 8,321 croissants, 7,831 amazing salads and 2,947 ice creams, as well as fueling a multitude of days with coffee, fresh baked scones, sandwiches, cookies, gifts, art supplies, games, an embarrassing amount of jelly beans, and more.
Between the two locations we serve hundreds of people a day, employ approximately 30 folks, and support over 100 other businesses by selling local farm products, supporting local authors, magazines, newspapers, and market items. We've hosted over 100 story-times, visited with movie-stars, presidents, adorable puppies, and, even more importantly, a host of locals that grace our chairs daily. We have cheered up toddlers, encouraged reluctant readers to find their perfect book, fed teens studying for finals, watched college applications written, seen entire books conceived and published in our midst, and hosted interviews, prom asks, and first dates.
We have fed people at the Community Center through our daily food donations (over 2,153 lbs. of food last year) and through a special invitation for families to dine with us at Christmas time. We have supported over 40 local charities through donations and events and even more by promoting programs via social media.
We believe we have created a welcoming community hub, and have loved every minute of being a part of your lives. We adore the stop-ins and chats, the hugs, and the involvement in your daily routines. This is what community is and we want to thank you for being part of ours. When folks talk about supporting local - this is what they are saying. You win and the community wins. Keeping coming, keep spreading the word, and keep local business IN business...all while it feels like you are simply enjoying a cup of coffee with friends.
Thank you for a wonderful two years and many more to come.
Love from all of the folks at Little Joe's and Katonah Reading Room