Montauk Pioneer - May 8, 2009 - Montauk Business Beat

Despite the recession, many new businesses are either opening or expanding in Montauk this season, and some have been renovating and making new changes to their existing locations. There is lots of activity underway as the official start of the season on Memorial Day Weekend draws near.

Kai Costanza, owner of Kai-Kai Sandals on Main Street, Montauk, and on Duval Street in Key West, Florida, is opening a new shopping destination down at Gosman's Dock with his sister Gabrielle, consisting of several stores in one. He is opening Montauk's only shoe store, called, Kai-Kai Shoes, a full-service shoe store which will have assorted shoes by Ugg, Dansko, Merrell, Mephisto, Birkenstock, Clarks, Sperry, Naot, Keen, Nike and of course, the exclusive Kai-Kai Sandal.

This expansive two-story location also features sunglasses, bikinis, resort wear, accessories and summertime items. Upstairs you'll find the "Life is Good Loft," a cozy collection of soft cotton tees, sweatshirts, loungewear, and athletic gear. Get ready for the beach in Body Glove bikinis, Ed Hardy, Jams World, Save the Tatas and Hawaiian Island Creations. This store also carries sunglasses by Ray-Ban, Maui Jim, Smith, Oakley, D & G, Burberry and more.

The new Kai-Kai Shoe Store at Gosman's Dock will be having a grand opening reception on Sunday May 24, starting at 4 p.m., with food, drinks, and live reggae music for everyone. You can also register to win a vacation for two in Montauk, and get your sandals autographed.

Another new shop opening on Montauk's Main Street is Whoa! Nellie!, which is moving into the former Tuma Real Estate office. Linda Seaton, who owns the popular "Whoa! Nellie!" vintage store on Main Street in Jamesport on the North Fork, has decided to open a similar shop in Montauk for her first season, and is renting space in the former real estate office, after Frank Tuma, Jr., retired last year.

"I'm very excited to be opening my store in Montauk," said Linda, who has already moved many of her fascinating vintage and antique items to the store. Her trendy, colorful merchandise includes everything from birdhouses, decoys, beer mugs, wooden fish, books, games, 1950s-style toys, old bottles, dolls, Dr. Pepper beach chairs, vintage cows, assorted antiques and old-fashioned candy. She also has an interesting and humorous collection of signs, reading such things as, "We Don't Skinny Dip-We Chunky Dunk," to "Montauk-Where Fishnets Aren't Stockings."

After operating last year as a small section of the popular Sangha Yoga Store, the Kai Lani Beach Store has moved into a separate store location next door to Sangha Yoga. Kai Lani, as it is called, is painted a vibrant and welcoming bright yellow and turquoise inside, and boasts a comfortable feel of being in the tropical island of Hawaii. There is a large selection of summerwear, beach clothes and accessories, in sizes from 2-24. This includes the wonderful selection of bathings suits, bikinis and tankinis, which are two-piece bathing suits. There are also a great assortment of beach bags and totes, straw and beaded purses. There is an interesting collection of shell and beaded jewelry, including Montauk beach glass jewelry created by Kristen Burke, one of the three partners.

Burke formerly lived in Hawaii, and her other partner, Jen White, lives there now. Samantha Romanowski, the third partner, is a flight attendant for Jet Blue, who often visits Hawaii.

"After we all found inspiration from spending time in the beauty of Hawaii, we thought our friends back home would love a store like this," said Romanowski. "We call it a Hawaiian inspired store, with a focus on Hawaiian designers. We also thought this island beach lifestyle was similar to Montauk in the summer."

One of their favorite surfer-photographers, Clark Little, of Hawaii, displays his amazing photos on the wall, depicting the huge curling waves in Hawaii. He captured these images by riding in this huge surf and snapping these photos as quickly as he could, while still inside the curls of the giant waves. They are truly worth checking out!

Another popular business that has moved to a new location is Manucci's Restaurant, which moved from the docks along West Lake Drive up the street to the former Tipperary Inn Restaurant and Bar. Ray and Eileen Cappiello are now in their ninth season, and are still serving their ever-popular all you can eat buffet breakfast with waffles, French toast, eggs, etc. every Sunday, for $9.95. Their omelet station, run by breakfast chef Campbell, is cranking out make-your-own omelets from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Sundays year-round. They also feature other specials - "Pasta Night" on Mondays, and "Locals Night" on Sundays, for special prices. Head Chef Michael Aylward specializes in Italian food, with a heavy emphasis on seafood, and has added lobster to the menu. They are also starting a late night menu this season, from 10 p.m. to midnight, with brick oven pizza and burgers. This season, Manucci's will also have live entertainment every Sunday evening from Memorial Day to Columbus Day.

A restaurant café called 668 The Gigshack, on Montauk's Main Street, has re-opened for the season, and will be adding a wine and beer bar this year, as well as a Gelatoria for soft-serve premium Gelato ice cream. Owners Tracey Gardell, with her sons Skylar and Gray, will be offering breakfast, lunch and dinner seven days a week in season. Gray Gardell is perhaps the youngest chef in Montauk, at 19, but he graduated from the International Culinary Institute in NYC and he cooks up a mean "Global Surf Cuisine," while showing surfing videos on a big screen. This includes Montacos, or fish tacos, Lamburginis, or Moroccan lamb sliders, and Empanadas - all great tastes of different cultures, along with yummy in-house barbecue.

"We're very excited to have this street-side café, which will also feature homemade baking and live music this season," said Tracey Gardell.

More new Montauk businesses and additions, will be featured in next week's paper.