By Kate Bartlett
Katy’s Café is celebrating their 10th anniversary in Ellicottville as they opened on March 16, 2012. Katy Arena is the owner and operator of Katy’s Café. As a Salamanca native and Great Valley resident, she is an active member in the community and proud to contribute as a small business owner. She also recently opened Katy’s Fly-In, family style restaurant in Great Valley serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
“Katys café started from a crazy idea from my sister-in-law who told me I should buy the café she was working at the time, Coolings. I talked it over with my now husband and we decided to seize the opportunity. It was the best chance we’ve ever taken, and we have been taking chances ever since. It was not quite the plan we had for our lives at the time but I am so glad we decided to take the plunge.”
Katy’s original location was in building that is now the Tee Bar. “It was small and really crowded most of the time. As we grew it became obvious that we needed more space and in 2017 we moved the café to where it is now at 10 Washington Street. We do miss the old space and how cozy it was, but we also love our new space and the beautiful patio we now have to enjoy during the warmer months of the year.”
Katy describes the café as “kind of like Cheers but in café form. It is always buzzing with our locals and out of town guests. It tends to be loud because everyone is talking to each other sometimes from across the dining room. Someone found me a sign that hangs above one of the doors that says “Enter as strangers leave as friends” and I feel like that’s a pretty good motto for the café.”
Katy got her start in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher and has since worked in just about every position in a restaurant. “When I began to help out in the kitchen, I really became interested in cooking and it blossomed from there. I learned from many people as I moved through the industry, my mom of course, Carol Herbach, Grace Kell, Mike Nickolson, Victoria Brown, and Jay Buchhardt to name a few. “I take inspiration wherever I can find it. I love to read about food and make new things.” She cooks in both restaurants regularly, and believes everything tastes better with cheese.
“I really just enjoy what I get to do. Buying the café was one of the best decision’s I’ve ever made. I have amazing staff that I am privileged to work with every day. They are like my second family. I love cooking and coming up with new specials and menu items. I absolutely love the customers and getting to interact with them. The whole thing has just been such a blessing I would have never thought 10 years ago I would be where I am now. I do not like paperwork and my accountant will attest to that anytime lol. I seriously don’t know what else I would do; I can’t imagine my life any other way.”
Katy’s favorite thing about Ellicottville is the people. “You have this amazing little town that fills up every week with different people from all walks of life. Some people you see every couple weeks, some just once, some every day and some seasonally. It’s a pretty amazing little place.”
With the warm weather approaching, Katy and her crew are getting the patio set up for outdoor dining with the hopes of live acoustic music throughout the warmer months. They are also hoping to offer beer and wine at the café in the near future along with extended hours into the evenings. They are adding permanent covered outdoor seating at Katy’s Fly-In café. Be sure to follow for updates on social media and watch for exciting announcements. “We might have something else in the works but are not ready to disclose just yet!”