Fiesty village meeting over Sagaponack General store, grocery owned by wife of Blackstone chief
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.
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 by for a reported $3.8 million.
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.”
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.
“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.”
