Trendy Sagaponack General store, Hamptons grocery owned by Blackstone chief’s wife, sparks fiery village debate



New York City Society

exclusive details

Trendy Sagaponack General store, Hamptons grocery owned by Blackstone chief’s wife, sparks fiery village debate

See more of our coverage in your search results.



Add Page Six on Google

Last year, Page Six revealed that Hamptonites were in a huff over traffic jams and brunch-time chaos outside the tiny-but-trendy Sagaponack General Store.

Now we hear that the matter is roiling village board meetings.

At the most recent one on July 15, one local called the situation “wild” and “unsafe.” Another said, “It’s scary crossing the street in front of the General Store,” and a third fretted about kids biking to the beach amid the hoards roaming the streets in search of artisanal egg sandwiches.

The Sagaponack General Store has gone viral and is creating headaches in the Hamptons town. Instagram/Sagaponack General Store
Justin Bieber was recently spotted at the popular store. Instagram/Sagaponack General Store

Not helping matters is that the grocery store is now officially a celeb hang-out, after Justin and Hailey Bieber were spotted grabbing snacks with bodyguards in tow.

One fuming resident also complained there is “honking” and “car alarms” that remind him of his place in Brooklyn. (God forbid!)

Mindy Gray, wife of Blackstone billionaire president and COO Jon Gray, bought the quaint market— nestled in the country’s second-richest ZIP code — in 2020 for a reported $3.8 million.

Mindy Gray, wife of Blackstone billionaire president and COO Jon Gray, bought the spot in 2020 for a reported $3.8 million. NurPhoto via Getty Images

It began gaining traction last year causing locals to grumble about “lines [that] spill out into the street” on summer weekends.

Now, the spot has reached viral fame with TikTokers posting their breakfast burritos, ice creams and matchas, stopping by in droves and creating even more of a headache for wealthy neighbors.

One source summarized the problem, telling us, “It’s become viral . . . people are sitting out back and taking pictures of their food. Things that would annoy any neighbor, but especially wealthy neighbors that want peace and quiet.”

The source added, “They do have a killer egg sandwich. They’re not bad operators. It’s a victim of its own popularity.”

Residents have asked for some sort of enforcement outside the store. Instagram/Sagaponack General Store
The store also houses the local Post Office. Instagram/Sagaponack General Store

Also adding to the issue it that the Post Office, located inside the General Store, has added more P.O. boxes, which some believe has also added to the chaotic cluster.

Sagaponack does not have its own police force, but Mayor Bill Tillotson tells us the village is going to speak with police in Southampton — the municipality that Sagaponack falls within — about some sort of enforcement to keep things under control and make sure everyone is safe.

Tillotson also says the village is looking to create more sidewalk space for people to walk. “There is a lot of foot traffic going behind cars that is dangerous,” he noted.

He also pointed out that as the Hamptons becomes a more popular destination, people are getting off the packed highway and taking back roads, leading them through the town and right past the General Store.

Even the mech is popular! Instagram/Sagaponack General Store

“It’s the Hamptons: we are packed this time of year,” he said. “It’s compound problems and this is a pinch point.” He also promised that the issue will definitely be resolved by next year.

The Mayor seemed proud of the spot despite the issues, telling us, “It’s successful.”

Mindy told Page Six: “Our priority remains the safety of the Sagaponack community. We supported the significant changes that the Village made in the off season to improve the flow of traffic and are now working closely with the mayor to make further improvements, including a sidewalk for pedestrians.”

Conversation

Your voice matters. Discussions are moderated for civility. Read our guidelines


Community Guidelines

Welcome to the Page Six Community!

Our community is about connecting people through open and thoughtful conversations. We want our readers to share their views and exchange ideas in a safe space.

In order to do so, we’ve created a simple set of rules that will improve your experience.

Simply put, keep it civil.

Your post will/might be rejected if it contains:

  • Spam
  • Insults, profanity, incoherent, obscene or inflammatory language and threats of any kind
  • Attacks on the identity of other commenters or the article’s author

User accounts will/might be blocked if we notice:

  • Continuous attempts to re-post comments that have been previously moderated/rejected
  • Racist, sexist, or homophobic comments
  • Attempts or tactics that put the site security at risk

So, how can you be a power user?

  • Stay on topic and share your passion. Feel free to elaborate to get your point across.
  • ‘Like’ or ‘Dislike’ when you are filled with emotions!
  • Protect your community. Use the report tool to alert us when someone breaks the rules.

Thanks for reading our community guidelines. Don’t forget, freedom of speech is not the freedom of reach!

Source link

Comments

  • No comments yet.
  • Add a comment