O'Suzanna Owner Retires; New 'Hampton House' To Open On Main Street

Nadine Hampton, owner of Mustique on Main Street in Westhampton Beach, has been a self-professed "fixture" on the village retail scene for over 30 years, since she started out scooping ice scream at 16.

And, now that Suzanne Marchisello, owner of O'Suzanna on Main Street for over 26 years, retired on Dec. 31, Hampton decided to expand her shop, Mustique, located right next door.

To that end, Hampton is excited to  be working on opening a new home, gift, and lifestyle shop, to be called Hampton House.

The grand opening is slated for March 1.

Expanding her space, Hampton said, was a "no-brainer"; her hope is to expand on what O'Suzanna offered village residents for decades and bring new, personalized gift ideas for every member of the family — men, women, children, and even pets.

Right now, Hampton said she's "gutted" the retail space and is working furiously to turn her dream into reality.

"My vision is to offer gifts for any occasion," she said. Hampton is working on her own private label, Hampton House, and will offer "vignettes" for shoppers. "If you're an animal lover, we'll have gifts for cats, dogs, and horse lovers," she said.

The shop will also offer gift ideas for wine enthusiasts, baby gifts, barbecue items, as well as a spa and bath section, with towels, bedding and other items, something the village has been lacking for some time, she said. Small furniture pieces are also on the agenda, as well as candles and soaps under her own private label — something for everyone, with personal attention to detail and wrapped by hand.

For Hampton, the journey on Main Street has led from her first ice cream shop gig to owning her own business at 20, with an aunt, who was a head chef for the Barefoot Contessa; she ran a gourmet food and catering business at the site of the current Beach Bakery.

Later, she actually worked for a summer at O'Suzanna, and later, managed Erik Stewart, a clothing store on Main Street.

Later, Hampton opened her own shop, Koala, and later, Mustique, which was originally next door. "I couldn't bear to see another real estate business move in," she said.

Later, Mustique moved down the street next to O'Suzanna about five years ago.

"I am like a fixture in this town," Hampton, who will turn 50 this year, said. "I love that the stores, are, for the most part, mom and pop owned, and many are owned by women."

With a string of successful shops behind her, Hampton said, "It's all retail for me."

Breathing life into Main Street year round is a goal, Hampton said. "I know this customer, I've grown up with this customer since I was a teenager. I thought I was going to retire, but what would I be doing?"

Working in a resort community, she said, means the best of both worlds, with a fast-paced summer season, and time to travel during the winter months — although the Hampton House will be open year round.

The best part of opening her own business, Hampton said, is her hands-on approach. "I do it all myself," she said, adding that she works with the contractor and helps build and design the business from the ground up.

She's even designing the logo for her new private label. "It's like giving birth," Hampton said.

Between Mustique and the new space, Hampton said she will have a "massive" 3500 square feet.

Her mission, Hampton said, is to keep Main Street vital, and urges residents to shop local year round. "I've been invested in this since I was 20. We've got to keep it going. Even spending a few dollars on Main Street goes a long way."