Westchester has a lot of women running great businesses. We put together a list of the ones we keep going back to, hear about from members, or stumble on during our outings around the county.
Restaurants and food
Little Kabab Station — 31 E Main St, Mount Kisco. Chef-owner Bonnie Saran opened this tiny 12-seater in 2011 and turned it into one of the most talked-about spots in northern Westchester. The Indian street food is genuinely good (the goat curry has been featured on ABC7), and the space is small enough that you feel like you’re eating at someone’s house. Saran went on to open several more “Little” restaurants in Mount Kisco and Pleasantville, though some have since closed. Little Kabab Station is still going strong.
Francey Brady’s — 72 Main St, Yonkers. An Irish-American pub owned by Siobhan and Patricia Brady. It’s a neighborhood bar in the best sense. Traditional Irish dishes, cold pints, a party room upstairs. If you’ve done a girls night in the area, you’ve probably heard someone mention it.
RaaSa Indian Cuisine — 145 E Main St, Elmsford. Co-owned by Priya Kapoor-Salian and her husband Ashok Salian. The restaurant earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand, which is not easy to come by in the suburbs. The menu covers a wide range of Indian regional cooking, and the dining room is a real step up from your average strip-mall Indian spot.
Baked by Susan — 379 S Riverside Ave, Croton-on-Hudson. Susan O’Keefe started as a wholesale baker and ended up opening a retail shop in Croton that’s become a local institution. Everything is made from scratch with no preservatives. She’s won Best of Westchester every year since 2013, which is the kind of streak you don’t argue with. If you’re planning a brunch crawl, grab a box of her cookies for the drive.
Coffee
Mimi’s Coffee House — 37 S Moger Ave, Mount Kisco. Owned by Selamawit “Mimi” Wieland-Tesfaye, who grew up washing and roasting coffee beans in her grandmother’s backyard in Ethiopia. She also runs the Ethiopian restaurant Lalibela. Mimi’s has a loyal following and a boho atmosphere that earned it a Best of Westchester nod. She sells baked goods from other locally owned women’s businesses, which is the kind of detail that matters.
Wine and spirits
Aged Cork Wine & Spirits — 2237 Central Park Ave, Yonkers. Kate Tkachenko opened this shop in 2020 with a focus on natural and biodynamic wines. About 90% of what’s on the shelves is organic or sustainably produced. If you’re into wine tasting in Westchester and want to bring something interesting home, this is the shop.
Shopping and boutiques
I Am More Scarsdale — 6 Spencer Pl, Scarsdale. Co-owned by Abbey Solomon and Marcy Berman-Goldstein. They stock current trends in clothing and accessories, and they actively carry products from other women-owned brands. Here’s the part that’s unusual: the owners forgo their own salaries so they can donate to women’s philanthropic organizations. They’ve partnered with the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the Food Bank of Westchester, and others. It’s a shop that feels good to spend money in.
Falena — 51 Main St, Irvington. Nicole Vallario runs this curated boutique on Irvington’s main drag. It’s part jewelry store, part lifestyle shop: handmade jewelry, clothing, apothecary products, and home decor. She prioritizes carrying products from women-founded brands, so you’re supporting multiple women-owned businesses in one stop.
The Velvet Maple — 1935A Palmer Ave, Larchmont. A mother-daughter operation run by Alessandra Iavarone and her mother Rita. The inventory leans environmentally responsible and fair-trade, with handmade jewelry, natural body products, eco-friendly baby goods, and home fragrances. It opened during the pandemic, which tells you something about their nerve.
Wellness and fitness
Yoga Haven — Tuckahoe. Founded by Betsy Kase in 1997, this is one of the longest-running yoga studios in lower Westchester. Betsy opened it after moving back to Westchester from the city and struggling to find a community (something a lot of us can relate to). Now it offers vinyasa, Iyengar, slow flow, prenatal classes, and teacher trainings. If you’re looking for wellness spots in Westchester, this is one of the originals.
Hourglass Women’s Wellness — 33 S Broadway, White Plains. A women-only gym offering personal training, hot yoga, and barre classes. Sometimes you just want to work out without anyone watching you figure out a new machine. That’s the idea here.
Scarsdale Women’s Fitness — 80 Maple St, Scarsdale. A women-only boutique fitness space with Pilates reformers, a full strength circuit, and Techno Gym equipment. The founder has over 30 years in the fitness industry, and the studio has a small-class feel that bigger gyms can’t replicate. If you’ve been meaning to try a new workout but don’t want a packed gym floor, this is a low-pressure place to start.
Beauty and self-care
Hair Saloon & Cafe — 862 Scarsdale Ave, Scarsdale. Danielle Settembre opened this during the pandemic and somehow made it work. It’s a hair salon and a full-service cafe and bar, all in one space. Settembre grew up in a restaurant family and trained as a stylist, so the combination actually makes sense when she does it. Get a cut, have a cocktail. Or just have the cocktail. Worth checking out as part of a spa day in Westchester.
Creative arts and education
Artistree Performing Arts — 114 W Boston Post Rd, Mamaroneck. A certified women-owned performing arts studio offering classes in acting, singing, dance, music, and film for ages preschool through adult. It’s listed in the state’s WBE directory, and it’s the kind of place that fills up fast in the fall.
Where to find more
The county maintains a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise directory that maps certified businesses across Westchester. And 914Inc publishes a women-owned business directory with contact info and websites for dozens of certified WBEs.
We plan to keep growing this list as we discover more women-owned spots on our Club West outings. If you know one we missed, tell us.
Come find your people
Club West is a women’s social club in Westchester County. Over a thousand women signed up in our first week, and we’ve been hosting events and outings ever since. If you’re looking for a group that actually does things together (and supports local businesses while they’re at it), check out our upcoming events or sign up.
Business details like hours, addresses, and menus can change. We recommend checking a business’s website or calling ahead before you visit. If you notice anything outdated on this list, let us know and we’ll update it.