Longtime Westhampton Beach Retailer Enters Home Goods, Gifts Business
Nadine Hampton, a fixture in the business district of Westhampton Beach, is readying her newest venture, Hampton House, a home, gift and lifestyle store attached to her Mustique clothing boutique.
Hampton House is the latest addition to the long list of Westhampton Beach businesses Hampton has owned or otherwise had a hand in.
“I started on Main Street when I was 16 years old, and that was 34 years ago,” Hampton says.
She began by scooping ice cream and later co-owned, with her aunt, Lloyd’s of Long Island, a gourmet food and catering business that was housed where Beach Bakery is now. She then worked for Erik Stewart until the store closed in 2001. She took over the space and opened Koala. “That was when I dabbled in the clothing business on my own,” she says. In 2004 she expanded by opening Mustique, a year-round shop carrying men’s and women’s clothing, next door. Five years ago she moved both stores into 110 Main Street and kept the identity Mustique. “I took the best of both stores and combined then into one,” she explains.
Mustique is connected by a cutout with O’Suzanna. When owner Suzanne Marchisello decided to retire at the end of last year, Hampton in turn decided to open her own store there. She gave it the doubly appropriate name Hampton House.
It is her first time selling home goods and gifts, but Hampton is confident.
“If there is one thing I know, it’s this customer,” Hampton says. “I’ve grow up with them. They’ve watched me grow up since I was a kid.”
She also raised a family here. Her son graduated from Westhampton Beach High School in 2008.
Her husband, Joseph Milo, is also a business owner in Westhampton Beach. He owns Joe’s American Grill, which opened 35 years ago under the name Milo’s East.
To prepare to open the doors of Hampton House to the public in March, Hampton is gutting and renovating the 1,800-square-foot space now. Over the course of her years in retail, she says, building the business has always been her favorite part.
“My hope and plan is that everything you will ever need a gift for, you will be able to come into that store and get it—baby gift, engagement gift, hostess gift and on and on,” she says.
There will be a pets section for dog and cat lovers, a spa area, and more.
For the home goods side of the business, she plans to carry the basic necessities that can be hard to find on Main Street, such as sheets and towels. She will also carry private label candles, lotions and soaps with attractive Hampton House branding.
Hampton recently returned from a national gift show in Dallas with more ideas to bring to Westhampton Beach.