By Marco Buglione
The Black Cat Café, located in Irvington, NY, is a popular site for breakfast and lunch cuisine. Whether it’s their delicious French toast, iced chai latte, or baked goods, purchasing something is irresistible at first glance.
The onset of the pandemic was destructive to small businesses, many of whom after reopening still suffered from various restrictions. After a sign on their door had read “we are hoping to reopen in April,” this left many students, who traditionally would wake up early in the morning, or who would stop by in the afternoon for a snack, anxious.
In February 2021, Emily Feliciano, the proprietor of the cafe, launched a GoFundMe campaign. She was seeking $35,000 to pay the rent costs. There was little indication that the landlord was willing to compromise, and the GoFundMe campaign was bringing in a fraction of its goal. In addition to the rent issue, the Cafe needed renovations – the floors, an installation of a new air filter system, a customer bathroom, etc.
Luckily, On March 28, Emily finally reached an agreement with the landlords, effectively resolving the matter. Given the timing of the settlement and the work that still needs to be done, The Black Cat is not likely to officially reopen until later this spring. Irvington residents should prepare themselves once more for a delicious treat before work, school, or on an off day.
