The Montauk General Store Opens Doors

MONTAUK, NY — Imagine stepping back in time to an old-fashioned general store, where neighbors gathered to shoot the breeze on the big front porch and stock up on all their staples in one cozy space.

That's the vision co-owners Jessie Lavin and Kim Gatti have for their new shop, The Montauk General Store, located at 669 Main Street in Montauk.

The space is filled with old fashioned decor and offers a "general store, with a gourmet flair" ambiance, including a wide array of artisan breads and cheeses, handmade gift items, gifts, soaps, fresh herbs and flowers, clam bake accessories, treats for dinner parties, jars of candy, barrels of coffee beans, tins of tea, and all sorts of wonderful offerings in big glass cases to conjure up memories of general stores in days gone by, Gatti said.

"We wanted to do an old-fashioned general store," Gatti said. "The building has that feel, with the big front porch. And it's right on the pond," she said.

Her partner's husband Thomas Lavin built all the pieces "to make it look like an old general store — that's the feel we want," but with gourmet offerings, she said.

"At the turn of the century, you could get everything you needed at the general store. Every old town needs a general store," Gatti said.

Even the old fashioned candy will bring back memories; at Christmas, the plan is to offer candy canes by Hammond's Candies, one of the oldest candy companies in the country, she said.

Gatti and Lavin, who both live in Montauk just started brainstorming back in October and came up with the concept quickly, Gatti said.

For Gatti, whose family hails from Montauk, the idea of creating a business in the place where roots are deep is meaningful. "Montauk has always been special to me. I want my daughter Kaila to grow up here."

Kaila, she added, is 11 and goes to the Montauk School.

The soft opening was Saturday with an official grand opening slated for Saturday, Feb. 17.

"Jessie and I both always wanted a store on Main Street, so it's kind of exciting for both us us," Gatti said.

Check for hours of operation and other information on The Montauk General Store's Facebook page.