After an unexpected journey with several twists and turns, Kathleen’s Tea Room has returned — with help from the community.
The popular English-style tearoom, forced to close for construction after a roof collapse in 2021, has reopened at a temporary location – the former Ofori’s World Cuisine at 979 Main St. – across the street from the Tea Room’s original site at 982 Main St., amid a dispute with a contractor stalling construction.
Owner of the tea room, Peekskill Mayor Vivian McKenzie, shared with the Peekskill Herald how the community came together to support her business following the closure of the original and through the reopening of the new tea room.
“The response has been amazing. People have been really, really sweet, really nice,” McKenzie said. “All the tea cups and all the saucers, I didn’t have to source any of them.”
The community helped fill the tea room’s cabinet, from people donating family dishes to a drive organized by the Rotary Club. There even were those holding on to china to donate ever since the tea room’s roof collapsed in 2021. The teacup cabinet was gifted in memory of Peekskillian Terry Von Hightower, affectionately called “Cowboy” because he always wore a cowboy hat and boots.
Town of Cortlandt resident Maxine Carrizzo was donating an old set of china when the Herald stopped by the tea room. She previously donated china to the tea room before the roof mishap in 2021.
“It was just a really nice place to go have a meal, and when the roof fell in, people were devastated,” Carrizzo said. “They were like, ‘Where are we going to get those great sandwiches and great soups that she made?”
Another community member, White Plains resident Ann Kilbourne, was downsizing from her home last year and had an antique tea caddy that belonged to her grandmother. She knew about the collapse of the roof of Kathleen’s Tea Room and thought McKenzie might be interested in the piece of furniture. She took a picture of it and sent it to McKenzie, who responded that it was the exact same piece of furniture that she lost. Kilbourne arranged to meet McKenzie and give her the tea caddy.
“I had a lovely lunch at the original Kathleen’s some time ago and when I read the story in the Peekskill Herald about the roof collapsing I was just so sad and I wanted to do something,” Kilbourne said.
Since re-opening, McKenzie said, the most popular items on the menu are Kathleen’s chicken salad and the plain and mixed berry scones.
Staff at the tearoom includes McKenzie as chef, two kitchen assistants, a general manager, two dishwashers, and wait staff, including three of her original employees.
The tearoom’s walls are adorned with artwork by local artist Larry D’Amico. McKenzie plans on showcasing local artists every eight weeks.
Contractor’s dispute led to temporary location
Work remains stalled at the original tea room at 979 Main St. due to the project’s general contractor allegedly not paying his subcontractors.
“I paid him all this money, and he didn’t pay his subcontractors,” McKenzie said. “So rightfully so they don’t want to come back to work and I don’t blame them. If you’ve done work without being paid, why would you come back? They did everything they were supposed to do. Everything was signed off on. The architect, the bank, everybody signed off on everything. And yet these poor people cannot get paid.”
With the tea room closed for five years, McKenzie said she couldn’t wait any longer. When she learned that restaurateur Lawrence Ofori was shutting down his restaurant on Main St., she contacted the building landlord to rent the space.
McKenzie transformed the interior to a brighter decor, repainting all the walls, installing custom made fixtures, dressing the tables with linen, and making repairs.
The Tea Room’s first pop-up was held on April 24, with a formal opening held May 19. Prior to the reopening, McKenzie had a soul food truck parked in front of the original Tea Room, offering soup, salad and sandwiches. Customers at the new Tea Room can still expect “Soul Food Fridays.”
Grateful to the community
McKenzie said the lease at 979 Main St. is open-ended and that she could see herself there for at least a year. Asked if she would consider staying there, she said, “It depends. We’ve invested a lot here, so it could be a possibility. I’m not sure what the landlord wants to do, so it really would be up to him. But for right now, this is where we are. We’re gonna make it work.”
When it re-opens, the original Tea Room at 982 Main St. again will occupy the ground floor, with seating for 40, while the two upper floors will house apartments. McKenzie said the apartments are nearly done and she has to apply for a partial certificate of occupancy.
“It was really important that I got a sidewalk in, so that people weren’t so displaced,” McKenzie said. “It was an absolute mess. But now people can walk through. The outside of the building looks good. I just want it done so that it makes the neighborhood look nice.”
McKenzie expressed gratitude to all of the community members in Peekskill and the surrounding area who helped her open without having to otherwise source a single tea cup or saucer, saying her heart was “overwhelmed.”
“I just want people to know that even though we’re across the street, it’s the same Kathleen’s Tea Room, just in a different environment, that the food is the same,” McKenzie said. “It’s a place to come and just relax and just feel good, and we want to continue that vibe. I want the public to know that I didn’t just leave a building there. That’s not our fault. It’s actually the contractor’s fault. It’s going to work out and eventually it’ll be open.”
Additional reporting by Natalie Skvarla
