Bedford 2030

Special thanks to Bedford 2030 for coming to the Reading Room to talk sustainability and local businesses committed to making a difference.

Those who live in Katonah know it's a special place, and one reason is the independently owned local businesses, like the Katonah Reading Room. Gretchen Menzies has magically curated a sustainability-minded bookstore and cafe in the historic heart of downtown Katonah, where you want to linger.
In conversation with Bedford 2030, Gretchen acknowledged the sustainability challenges surrounding paper books and e-readers, making her keenly aware of other ways their bookshop can positively impact the climate. For example, they donate their extra baked goodies to the Community Center of Northern Westchester to curb food waste and increase access to fresh-baked foods. They also use compostable cups, sell takeaway beverages in recyclable containers, and sell items crafted with sustainability in mind. Gretchen, a painter when she's not curating books, gushed over a sustainable watercolor paint maker who packages her paints in paper instead of plastic.
We fell in love with Gretchen's and the Katonah Reading Room's spirit today and how they care about the planet as much as we do. We highly recommend a long, leisurely visit to the Katonah Reading Room for a feel-good-about-the-plane-bookish adventure or a productive afternoon in their upstairs co-working "speakeasy."
Gretchen’s Go-To Cafe Order: Fresh baked apricot almond scone or lemon sugar cookie.
Gretchen’s Current Fave Book Rec: The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus by Emma Knight
Watch our interview at the Katonah Reading Room on Instagram and YouTube.