Dan's Papers - August 10, 2007 - A Walking Tour Of Southampton

In 1773, an East Hampton farmer named Ellis Squires sailed his whaleboat with his wife and their nine children to a beautiful place nestled between the Atlantic Ocean, Shinnecock Bay and the Peconic Bays. This verdant stretch, which they called Squiretown, became known as Good Ground and, later, as Hampton Bays. By 1870, Good Ground and its surrounding hamlets boasted a population of 504. The Village of Good Ground grew into a thriving community of fishermen, tradesmen and farmers, who grew enough strawberries that they were imported to Boston in 1872 for a festival known as the Boston Jubilee. The foundation of Ellis Squire's home and the home of his son, Ellis Squire, Jr., known as the Brook House, remain standing in Hampton Bays to this day. Other famous structures, such as the Methodist Church, built in 1838, the Catholic Church known as St. Rosalie's, built in 1901 and St. Mary's Episcopal Church, built in 1917, still stand as reminders of the Village's faithful, hardworking past.

In 1869, the railroad came to Good Ground, opening it up to travelers seeking refuge from New York City, bringing even more culture and residents to this lovely village. Due to the popularity of the Hamptons, in 1922 the Village of Good Ground and its surrounding hamlets united to form the Village of Hampton Bays. Now, as one of the most diverse communities on the East End, Hampton Bays offers a wide array of cultural, artistic and culinary delights to its residents and seasonal visitors. From a Latin-flavored disco and old-world Italian markets to one of the East End's most elegant Asian-fusion eateries and a comprehensive library, Hampton Bays has it all.

While walking down Hampton Bays' tree-lined Main Street, visitors to the Village might first stop in to have a bite a John's Italian Restaurant. Although it houses a bustling pizza parlor in the front room, John's also has a romantic, traditional Italian-American dining room nestled in the back, with raffia-wrapped bottles of Chianti on every table and charming scenes of "The Old Country" painted on the walls. Just beside John's, the spacious movie theater boasts multiple screens of the newest releases, all tastefully tucked away under a crisp white awning and small-town ticket window. If you prefer a more exotic dining experience, Matsulin is situated just across the street, serving creative sushi rolls and spicy dishes that impress even the most seasoned asiaphile with their crisp, delectable flavors.

Also on Main Street, authentic European shops such as Scotto's Italian Pork Store and The Irish Cottage hearken back to Hampton Bays' more recent past, when immigrants from Ellis Island chose to settle outside of New York City, in the gracious little Village that welcomed them with open arms and the promise of a life as relaxing as that in the Old Country, with all the benefits of living only an hour's train ride from the hustle and bustle of New York City. Paul's Italian restaurant also echoes this era, while F.O.O.D. and Rosemary's cater to a more sophisticated European palate.

Off the beaten path, the Green Door Genral Store on Shinnecock Road makes fresh pies, pastries and other country delights that would make old Ellis Squires himself proud.

If the younger set feels like shimmying their hips to a Latin beat, the Hampton Bays Diner has a thumping Latin dance club right behind it and serves greasy-spoon fare all night long - just the ticket to replenish weary dancers or help the Village's early risers start their day with a smile and a cancion. Even hungry sports fans can sink their teeth into something juicy while they cheer on their favorite team at Gators or dive into a big plate of fries and a perfectly-grilled burger at Tom McBrien's.

On the waterfront, Hampton Bays boasts some of the deepest dockage and safest ocean access of any place in the Hamptons. Most everyone who calls the Village home has spent an afternoon on one of Hampton Bays' pristine waterways.

With all its Old-World charm and eclectic population, Hampton Bays is not only a favorite hangout for the New York City crowd, but a prime destination for shopping, dining and relaxation.