Dick’s Sporting Goods, a national chain, will be moving to East Hampton Village, opening by May 14 at 67 Main Street, which has a rear entrance as 34 Park Place. That location means it will be only steps away from mom-and-pop sporting goods stores like Gubbins Perfect Fit and Set Point Tennis.
“I’m not thrilled about it because of Gubbins,” Mayor Jerry Larsen said. “A lot of people think the village has the ability to ban chain stores, but we do not because it’s discriminatory.” In fact, despite its charm, the village is home to many national chains, like Ralph Lauren, Lululemon, and Stop and Shop, among others.
The building Dick’s Sporting Goods will occupy is owned by the Diamond family. Reached by phone last week, Chris Diamond declined to comment, saying he could not speak for his family. Mr. Diamond’s name is listed as the building’s owner on village documents.
“We’re still hearing different reports about what’s going on,” Geary Gubbins said on Friday.
By Monday the near-term picture had been clarified. In May, the store will feature Dick’s golf brands — Walter Hagen, which offers men’s and women’s apparel, and Maxfli, the company’s golf ball brand — and will also sell golf accessories like bags and gloves.
“We are really excited to be popping up in the Hamptons this summer and look forward to engaging with the community through this store,” said Aimee Watters, the vice president of vertical brand marketing for Dick’s. “This store will not feel like a traditional Dick’s Sporting Goods, but rather an expression of our in-house apparel brands — Walter Hagen, Calia, and DSG — and our tour golf ball brand, Maxfli.”
Calia is Dick’s women’s apparel brand, and DSG is a full-family apparel brand. A job listing for the location says that post-summer
“It’s obviously a little concerning anytime you’re faced with a new challenge. What the past has taught us when we’re faced with adversity here at Gubbins is that the community really rallies around us, ever since my mom started the store when I was a little kid,” Mr. Gubbins said. “To still be here in this community, still doing what my parents did, I think it speaks to what makes this village great, and I’m proud to carry on that tradition.”
“We welcome all businesses to the village,” Marcos Baladron, the village administrator, said. “We want both Gubbins and Dick’s to be successful. I’ve heard each month they’ll be doing something different, each month a different focus, so hopefully they can complement Gubbins.”
Indeed, a job posting by Leap Platform for a part-time sales associate lists “a strategic collaboration” between it and Dick’s, “designed to bring a curated selection of their most premium private labels to a boutique setting.”
Another year-round sporting goods store in the village questioned the addition of the new neighbor. “They are steps from our store,” said Ric Winter, the owner of Set Point Tennis. “If they sold the tennis rackets we sell, that would be extremely abrasive.” Set Point also sells some golf supplies.
Mr. Winter was also thoughtful about the prospect, however. “Dick’s is a big store. I’m sure they did their homework,” he said. “It wouldn’t make sense for them to sell anything like what we sell. I think it will turn out fine.”
Right now, it appears Dick’s will be open mostly during the summer months: from May 14 to Oct. 18. It was not clear if the store would return in 2027.
“All this does is motivate me to work harder and develop more ties with the community,” Mr. Gubbins said. “I’m so appreciative to be here in business, still fighting for what makes the Hamptons great. We keep the lights on year round, not just for the summer season. We’re a store people can rely upon on those dark winter days, when it feels like the parking lot is just for us and the liquor store. Having Dick’s as a neighbor is not going to change what we do and what makes us great. We’re a local community store that employs our young student-athletes, and we’re proud of that.”
