After five businesses initially expressed interest in bidding on a new five-year lease for East Hampton Village’s Main Beach concession, only two bids were received by the deadline on Tuesday.
Susan Seekamp’s Beach Hut on Main, the current occupant of the village-owned space, was one bidder. The other was David Hart, a co-owner of Smokey Buns and Kumiso.
Since the bidding process was announced at the village board’s August meeting, Marcos Baladron, the village administrator, has consistently said the dollar amount of the bid would be only one of many factors that would affect the board’s decision.
Turns out the bids were separated by only a few thousand dollars, with Ms. Seekamp bidding $133,300 for the lease and Mr. Hart bidding $126,001. Both include small increases through the duration of the lease.
Mr. Hart’s bid also included an 8-percent profit-sharing agreement with the village. In other words, if his business made $1 million through the concession, on top of his bid, he’d give the village another $80,000.
Mr. Baladron said the board would discuss the bids in executive session at Friday’s meeting.
“The bids came in at the right prices,” he said. “Mr. Hart submitted a very good and interesting presentation. Both are local operators, and both are well known. I will say we’ve been inundated with supporters of the Beach Hut, through phone, text, and email over the last week. The board is taking it all in.”
