Some surprising eateries are looking to operate the concession at Main Beach in East Hampton.
While Susan Seekamp, the owner of the Beach Hut on Main, the current occupant, has submitted a new bid to remain there, the list also includes the owners of the Hedges Inn, Smokey Buns and Kumiso, Rowdy Hall, and Barbara Layton, who operated Babette’s in East Hampton for decades.
“We want a local operator,” Marcos Baladron, the village administrator, said in a phone call. “We don’t want Starbucks. We don’t want Shake Shack. We don’t want anything that can price people out. I want as many local bids as possible.”
“The village has been very pleased with Susan Seekamp’s operation of the Chowder Bowl over the last five years,” he added in an email, using the longtime name of the concession at Main Beach. “This five-year bid process is designed to guarantee that the operator — whether Susan or another qualified local business — shares our vision for Main Beach.”
While The Star reached out to all of the names on the list, only David Hart, co-owner of Tip Top Hospitality, the restaurant group that owns Smokey Buns and Kumiso in East Hampton Village, and K-Pasa and Sen in Sag Harbor Village, responded.
“We’re looking to do something different from what we have with our established restaurants,” he said. “We’re hoping to team up with the culinary program at the high school.” He added that he received an email from the village saying there was only one walk-through opportunity and only he and the owners of the Hedges showed up.
Bids are due Tuesday, with the minimum set at $100,000.
According to Mr. Baladron, all bidders will be on hand for an unsealing of the bids, but then the village board will make a decision after discussing the matter in executive session following the Friday, Sept. 26, meeting.
The winning bid will be announced at the Oct. 24 meeting.
The concession sparked controversy in April 2022 when the village board added a resolution to the agenda to allow alcohol sales.
Despite pushback from then-Trustee Arthur Graham, the resolution was passed unanimously and the Seekamps applied for and received a license from the New York State Liquor Authority. Alcohol has been available at the Beach Hut on Main since then.
“There have been no issues at all with alcohol at the Main Beach concession,” Village Police Chief Jeff Erickson wrote in a text.
Mr. Baladron said bidders will be judged based on six criteria including vision, menu, local connection, past experience, references, and price.
The concession will not necessarily go to the highest bidder, he said.
“Money doesn’t really concern us. We’re perfectly prepared to pick the lowest bid if they have everything else we require.” He said he had received a number of emails from residents in support of Ms. Seekamp’s concession.
