Spring Brings Changes to Katonah Storefronts – Bedford-Katonah, NY Patch

 

 

Downtown Katonah will welcome Suburban Groove and Cross Sports Woman but a few empty windows remain.

 

It’s been a few months since we’ve written a Sprouts and Shutters column but the weather is not the only thing that is changing in downtown Katonah.

Bettina Sementilli is opening Cross Sports Woman in the Village East Commons, at 194 Katonah Avenue. If you’ve ever flipped through an Athleta catalog until it is dog-eared, wishing you had somewhere closeby to purchase sporty yet feminine workout clothes you could go to the grocery store in, your wish may come true with this store opening, set for April 2.

Sementilli said her shop will be different from others in town because it’s “geared toward the athlete who runs, bikes or swims and works out.” She’ll offer such high-end athletic apparel as Tyr and Zobha and casual footwear from Brooks and Saucony. She’ll also sell goo, a popular energy gel, along with other workout-boosting snacks.

And she knows what she’s talking about when it comes to fashion and excercise: Sementilli has the workout chops—she’s competed in four NYC marathons—and design experience, as a former director for Polo Ralph Lauren.

On the north end of town, we noticed with regret the closing of Ruthyan’s Boutique. But when one door closes…Rhea Russo and Suburban Groove will take over the space at 33 Katonah Avenue in a couple of months. “If I didn’t do it now, when there was an opening, I’d never do it!” said Russo of the move of her shop from Bedford Hills.

Suburban Groove will expand from about 600 square feet to a 1,000 square foot sales floor as a result. Russo will continue to sell her uniquely funky merchandise, including furniture, jewelry and candles. She hopes to maintain her current loyal customer base and gain a few new fans in the more high-profile space, she said.

Until Suburban Groove opens, a “pop-up shop” is in its place.

Patricia Tamowski and Scott Douglas, documentary filmakers who live in Katonah, have decided to share with locals their passion for two products: the Turbo Sonic, and ASEA, a “salt and water supercharger,” according to a brochure in the store, which they have temporarily leased.

While traveling in Europe and making a film on people who have reversed the affects of Alzheimer’s and ALS, they interviewed people who used ASEA to help improve symptoms, they said. Both Douglas and Tamowski say they use the product and feel healthier.

The TurboSonic machine is available for a free demonstration to anyone who wants to try it—you can check out the video to see Douglas using the machine. He said it burns calories and improves overall health. You can rent time on the machine, said Tamowski, ten rides for $20. The partners are currently looking for a permanent spot in a Katonah store to store the machine for locals’ use.

“We couldn’t keep this contained—the people of Katonah need to know about these products,” said Douglas. Patch can’t vouch for the health benefits or claims made, but the machine sure looks fun to try.

Next door to their shop, two vacant storefronts created by the departure of the Greener Cleaner and Tony’s Cigars remain empty. And mid-Katonah Avenue, the signage for Monroe’s Vintiques remains stenciled on the window, but there are no signs of a new tenant.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.