There might be a squeeze for retail space in the Hamptons, but there are enough high-profile launches happening this season to make the shopping scene interesting — and a bit different for those summering on Long Island’s luxurious East End.
“There are always new brands looking to make there mark here,” said Jeff Sztorc, a partner in the Hamptons real estate team at Compass. “For those looking for a prime spot on the main streets, there’s been a tremendous amount of demand.”
Still, “Since COVID[-19], there hasn’t been the normal shuffle after every summer,” said Lee Minetree, associate real estate broker at Saunders Associates. Compared to years past, “There are not a lot of retail openings this season. It’s pretty slim pickings. There is not a lot of space left in the main shopping areas.”
But that’s a clear sign that business is strong in the Hamptons. “People seem to be staying out here for longer periods,” Minetree said. “The retail business is good out here.”
From the ABC Carpet & Home collection.
Courtesy of ABC Carpet & Home
“The Hamptons is a natural extension for our brand,” said Geri Moran, vice president of marketing at ABC Carpet & Home, which opened its first store in the Hamptons on Thursday, a 5,600-square-foot unit at 1 Pond Lane in the heart of Southampton. ABC has a store in Manhattan’s Flatiron District and in Greenwich, Conn. “Our customers here — designers, creatives and home lovers — share our passion for intentional living and unique, meaningful design. With this new space, we’re excited to deepen our relationships with the local design community and continue building a home for artistry and inspiration.” Beyond shopping, the Southampton store is envisioned as a hub for creativity and collaboration — a place where local designers, makers and storytellers can connect and co-create.” The store sells sustainably sourced rugs from around the world, new and vintage furniture, decorative accents, textiles and gifts, and will be staging trunk shows.
But there’s always room for another pizza place. Crazy Pizza, known for its thin-crust pizza with ingredients flown in from Italy, is planning to open at 47 Montauk Highway in East Hampton next month. The menu also offers classic Italian dishes, antipasti, thin-crust pizzas and signature desserts like Nutella pizza.
Also, football legend Tom Brady is opening one of his CardVault by Tom Brady shops at 47 Newtown Lane in East Hampton over Memorial Day weekend. Earlier this year, the seven-time Super Bowl champion acquired a 50 percent stake in CardVault, then changed the name of the business to CardVault by Tom Brady. His involvement portends aggressive expansion of the chain, which sells sports cards, trading cards and memorabilia. “This isn’t just about buying and selling cards. It’s about curating history, building community, turning fans into collectors, and giving them access to own great moments in sports,” Brady said when he bought into the business.
The Elysewalker pop-up in Southampton.
courtesy
Here’s a list of several other openings around the Hamptons this season:
- Elysewalker will unveil a pop-up at 57 Main Street in Southampton on Memorial Day, which will operate through Labor Day. While Elysewalker has never before had a location in the Hamptons, it has hosted private events and styling suites in the area since 2018. The 1,800-square-foot space will carry a mix of heritage, new and emerging brands including Alaïa, Chloe, Dior, Gabriela Hearst, Johanna Ortiz, Khaite, Miu Miu, Saint Laurent and The Elder Statesman, and contemporary brands such as Toteme, La Ligne, Sablyn, Still Here, Agolde and Citizens of Humanity.
- RH Outdoor East Hampton, dedicated exclusively to RH Outdoor Collections, opens mid-June at 53 Main Street in East Hampton. The space features exclusive furniture collections by renowned designers, along with outdoor fire tables, umbrellas, lighting, rugs and decor, as well as the Striata Teak Collection, Sedona Teak Collection and Lagos Teak Collection, and key items from the existing assortment. There will also be the RH Interior Design service to reimagine your patio, poolside, beach space or balcony.
- Sézane, a Parisian direct-to-consumer B Corp.-certified brand, will open an immersive pop-up at The Maidstone, in East Hampton. The 150-square-foot pop-up, which marks Sézane’s first store in the Hamptons, debuts June 20 and will remain open until July 29. Sézane will reimagine Maidstone’s Retail Shack into “a transportive Paris-meets-East Hampton experience with a curated selection of bestselling essentials and accessories, including the Justine basket bag, and limited-edition pieces designed for the season. Prices range from $30 to $400.
- Vivrelle, a luxury accessories membership club, in partnership with Fwrd, is opening a pop-up in Bridgehampton where shoppers can buy or borrow coveted pieces from both brands. Officially opening Memorial Day weekend, the 1,500-square-foot space will be a luxury destination and will feature a Fwrd shop-in-shop with a curated assortment of clothing, beauty and home items, as well as an expansive collection of handbags from Vivrelle’s assortment, including accessories from brands such as Prada, Loewe, and Christian Dior. The space will be a “showroom’ allowing members to swap and browse the collection, sign up for membership and borrow items on the spot.
- House of Olita, a women’s boutique on Madison Avenue, will open a pop-up at 53 Jobs Lane in Southampton.
- J.Crew, which has for years operated a store in East Hampton, opened another permanent store at 88 Main Street in Southampton.
- Brunch, a relatively new lifestyle brand with a range of products and a particular focus on footwear, reopens its Brunch Playhouse format at 14 Amagansett Square in Amagansett. The 1,000-square-foot retail space offers swings, slipper art, puzzles, board, storytelling moments and a matcha bar in collaboration with the Montauk General Store.
- LT Burger is returning to Sag Harbor, moving into the space that was occupied by Tacorea, at 62 Main Street.
- The HUB, which stands for health, unity and beauty and is the newest project from Toni DeMauro and Michael Catalano, opened at 2183 Montauk Highway in Bridgehampton. Described as an “intersection of luxury retail and entertainment and creative venue” showcases fashion, home goods, gifts, lifestyle products, art installations, pop-ups, collaborations with designers and brands, and events. Fitness guru Isaac Boots has a residency at The HUB and will be holding classes this season.
- Salon 21, a fine art and interior design studio, is collaborating with The Maidstone in East Hampton on an exhibition, “La Dolce Vita,” featuring a diverse array of local and international artists including Alli Conrad, Clare Dufournier, Beau Gabriel and Danielle Kosann. The exhibition captures sun-drenched moments, intimate gatherings and the simple pleasures of life, according to Alex Bass, founder and chief executive officer of Salon 21., which will host cocktail parties and events with the artists.
- Blue&Cream is opening at 133 Main Street in Sag Harbor Memorial Day weekend with a dedicated space for quiet luxury brand Grey/Ven. Blue&Cream and Grey/Ven continue to have stand-alone stores in East Hampton. “We believe in partnering with those who share our vision for timeless, understated luxury,” said Scott Weissman, CEO of Grey/Ven. “Blue&Cream has a legacy of championing rising brands.” Grey/Ven will introduce exclusive capsule collections at all five Blue&Cream stores with resort and summer pieces, from sets to dresses and outerwear. Additionally Blue&Cream will launch handbags. Also on Memorial Day weekend Grey/Ven x Aroma360 will drop a home fragrance collection of candles, diffusers, room sprays and more at both the GreyVen East Hampton flagship and at Blue&Cream Sag Harbor.
- A Mary Lou’s bar/restaurant is slated to open in Montauk this summer, at 474 West Lake Drive. It’s a partnership of Alex Melillo, Joe Cervasio, Topher Grubb and NDT Development. The concept launched in West Palm Beach, Fla., this past winter with food and drinks described as “seasonal, strong and never overly serious.” Mary Lou’s is named after Melillo’s grandmother Mary Lou Curtis, who owned a popular fashion boutique in West Palm Beach called La Shack.