Katonah Coffee Shop to Close

A 15-year-old Katonah institution, , will close its doors in a few weeks, said its employees today.

The owner of the business, Christine Megerdichian, was not immediately available for comment but three of her employees said they were told that the shop's last day was March 30.

"I'm going to miss working here," said Stanley Alegria, who was behind the counter Friday with co-workers Luke Harberson and Javier Penafiel. Alegria, an employee of Perks for two and a half years said he most enjoyed meeting new people and seeing "the regulars."

Those regulars include Richard Satenberg of Katonah, a daily customer for the past seven years who comes for the socializing as much as the coffee.

"I started coming here for a break from chemotherapy and it became a routine," he said Friday afternoon, seated at one of the shop's silver-topped round tables. "Now I'm cancer-free and still coming because here, I'm among friends."

Satenberg said Perks was an important place for locals to meet.

"I've seen groups of writers and mothers meet here, and many college and job interviews take place. It's a place for old friends or new friends, and I hope its next reincarnation is as good if not better."

Kate Palmesi of Bedford Hills had just picked up a frappe when she heard the news of the store's closing.

"I hope another coffee shop opens up here—otherwise I will miss this as a community spot to meet," she said, joined by two friends, Sam Edwards and Caitlyn Newman.

One customer said they had heard another coffee shop would be opening in the place of Perks. Patch reached out to Urstadt Biddle Properties, the property management company, but a representative was not available Friday afternoon.