The Spur, Popular Co-Working Space, Expands To East Hampton

EAST HAMPTON, NY — It's an idea whose time has come: The Spur, a members-only, co-working space and "innovation community," is set to expand — along with its current Southampton location, a new spot will be opening its doors in East Hampton.

Since May 2018, the Spur has been a popular destination, located in a historic, converted 1880s feed and seed barn by the Southampton train station, a release said.

“Over the past year we have seen a steady growth in our membership base from both year-round entrepreneurs based on the East End as well as from innovators who are New York City-based residents but spend time in the Hamptons," said Spur founder and CEO Ashley John Heather. “In our first year we’ve already had over 150 members join The Spur and we continue to see pent-up demand from those living further east. Because of this, we quickly determined that our next business priority should be to accommodate that market demand before we expanded in other areas."

The Spur's new space will be sited at what's currently know as The 324, located at 44 Three Mile Harbor Road in East Hampton.

“I’ve been an East Hampton business owner for over 20 years as well as a homeowner on the East End since 1993. During this time, but especially so in the last 10 years, I’ve seen a remarkable transformation occur in the Hamptons with the increase in year-round business people,” Frank Cilione, an owner and operator of the East Hampton property, said, adding that "people finally now have a venue that is specifically designed and geared especially for them.”

“Spur East” will open in early spring after some upgrades to the current property.

The main lounge will be able to support an additional 100-plus members, "and offer a range of added value business, wellness and entertainment services. The new location will have a full bar, breakfast, lunch and catering services, and a large event space to support education lectures, corporate retreats, private events, live entertainment and even a ping pong club," the release said.

The Spur’s expansion formula is to have a Spur location within a 15 to 20 minute drive of every entrepreneurial and ideas minded person who lives or regular visits the East End, all involved said.

The Spur has an advisory board, which includes East Enders such as Bruce Bockmann, former Morgan Stanley managing director and co-founder of Techspace, the first co-working space for tech companies in the United States; Kathleen King, founder and former CEO of Tate’s Bake Shop; and David Bohnett, a veteran tech entrepreneur.

“The Spur is not just a physical space. It’s an active community of business leaders and next generation entrepreneurs looking to build their future from a base on the East End,” Bockmann said. “Resort towns need re-inventing as the internet continues to disrupt main streets across America. We need new innovative businesses to help support the local economy and keep talented skilled workers in the area.”

The Spur was recently awarded a $500,000 business development grant from the Long Island Regional Development Council’s 2018 Strategic plan, with an eye toward growth of knowledge-based jobs and the overall economy. The Spur’s grant was the largest award given to a for-profit business on the East End, the release said.

Membership is offered to entrepreneurs focused on businesses across the media and tech, health and wellness, retail and fashion and food and beverage industries. To apply for membership, click here.

Down the line, the release said, other spots are planned for the North Fork and other East End locations; the plan is to open a dozen locations in select resort towns across America, such as Palm Beach and Aspen.

Patch photo courtesy The Spur.