Library Café, Operated by Level Up Kitchen, Now Open

Emma S. Clark Memorial Library has unveiled its new café, the much-anticipated final phase in a construction project that was announced in 2021, which includes the café, a new outdoor terrace, and better flow for the library’s main reading room. This 2-year project is helping to make the library even more of a community center than it was before – inviting those to come and stay for a while – and meeting the different needs of the library’s various constituents.

More info & menu at emmaclark.org/cafe

The café, now open to the public, is run by Level Up Kitchen, a local business which was selected from a pool of candidates to be the food and beverage vendor, as was publicized by the Library in May of this year.

Owned and operated by Three Village native and chef Chelsea Gomez, Level Up Kitchen Library Café promises fresh coffee and healthy, handcrafted fare that meets a variety of dietary needs. The menu includes nut-free, gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan items, avoiding cross contamination with allergens. Moreover, Ms. Gomez places importance on sustainability, working with local farms and purveyors where possible to stimulate the local economy and provide the freshest, high-quality ingredients. Ms. Gomez possesses extensive knowledge of food safety, and all of her employees are Suffolk County Department of Health-certified food managers.

In addition to the outdoor terrace which opened last summer, a new indoor seating area was added adjacent to the café. Architect John Cunniffe, a local Stony Brook resident who has experience in preserving historical accuracy, ensured that the café and seating area showed architectural sensitivity to the historic section with the same refined feel. Urban Village Contracting, Inc., a 3V-resident-owned local company executed the construction. The library was able to complete the entire construction project without having to close at all for its patrons.

A café is a very popular addition among today’s libraries. It allows for more flexibility and options for the public, both to visit the library more often, as well as to extend their stay. The library is not solely a building full of books, but where individuals or groups may leisurely enjoy the beautiful space. Those who are studying or working may now take a break for a quick snack or meal, without having to leave the library. Before or after a library program, attendees may have something to eat or drink. Those who live or work in the neighborhood may stop in to grab a coffee or a bite to eat. Friends may meet at the library for coffee or a meal and browse books together. The café simply enhances that welcoming feel and accommodates those who would like to stay longer.

This “new” Emma Clark Library is not so much a transformation, as it is a rejuvenation of the Library, staying true to its historic roots and yet accommodating its 21st century constituency. The Library Board of Trustees and Staff are thrilled to offer these improvements to the community here in Three Village.

Level Up Kitchen is owned and operated by Three Village native and chef Chelsea Gomez. Ms. Gomez graduated from Pennsylvania College of Technology with a degree in Culinary Arts in 2006, and prior to founding Level Up Kitchen Ms. Gomez was Executive Chef at the much-loved Pentimento Restaurant in Stony Brook, which closed in 2021. Ms. Gomez is fully invested in the Three Village community, having grown up in Setauket, and she is currently raising her young family here.

The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library, located at 120 Main Street in Setauket and on the web at www.emmaclark.org, provides public library service to all residents of the Three Village Central School District. “The Heart of the Three Village Community”

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