This is a guest student story from Stony Brook University School of Communication and Journalism’s Working Newsroom class taught by Professor George Giokas.
When Jason Belkin first worked at Hampton Coffee Company as a college student, it was just a summer job. Little did he know that part-time gig would lay the groundwork for an entrepreneurial journey that would lead him to become the owner of the very coffee shop where he once worked.
“Although it was a summer job for me at the time, I always thought it would be cool to someday be the owner of an espresso bar,” Belkin says.
He had a career in broadcast journalism and public relations following his graduation from New York University, where he worked as a community reporter and associate producer at News 12 and as a public information officer. However, fate had other plans.
“One day, I heard that Hampton Coffee Company was for sale,” Belkin recalls. “I was living at home at the time, so I thought if there was ever a time to take a chance, it was then.”
Although what followed were many challenges and hard work, Belkin was fortunate enough to have prior experience at Hampton Coffee Company.
“I was lucky that I had already worked here before I had the opportunity to own it,” he says. This familiarity with the company’s operations and culture allowed Belkin to seamlessly step into the role of owner. But the early days of ownership weren’t without their challenges.
“For most new business owners, the challenge is doing everything yourself at the start,” Belkin says. He was responsible for everything—from baking muffins at 6 a.m. to accounting and writing paychecks.
Since he took ownership, Hampton Coffee Company has grown from one location — the one he bought in Water Mill — to seven, with the most recent store opening in Hampton Bays. “It was a really proud moment for us,” he says. “We found a unique location that had previously been a beloved farmstand and market. We were really happy to restore it and open it once again for the community.”
The growth of the business has not only been a financial achievement but also an opportunity to create a more impactful presence in each community it serves. “When we grow, we also get the added benefit of being able to promote members of our team and become an active part of a new community,” he says.
Today, Belkin is feeling optimistic about Hampton Coffee Company’s future. The business employs over 100 year-round team members, with a leadership team of about a dozen. Despite the challenges of starting a business from scratch, Belkin has built a company that strengthens the communities it’s a part of.
“I’ve never regretted it since,” he says. His story is one of hard work, perseverance, and taking chances when opportunity knocks—and it’s clear that Hampton Coffee Company is just getting started.
