You’re on vacation in the Hamptons or on Shelter Island and realize you forgot your phone charger, or the kiddos are somehow bored out of their minds and it dawns on you that card games would provide some wholesome, screen-free fun. Or perhaps you’re a local who has crawled to the beach in your car only to realize you didn’t pack your sandwich, and getting back home to make one would take you until dinner.
Convenience stores come in clutch in these moments. The Hamptons is full of local markets — corner stores, spots with distinct flair and good old-fashioned general stores with a little bit of a lot, some work-a-day, some downright gourmet. All will turn your “oops, I forgot that again,” into a quickly forgotten oversight.
Elli’s Country Store, 35 S. Ferry Road, Shelter Island
Open seven days a week — 6:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sundays — Elli’s Country Store offers the epitome of “convenience.” The sandwiches, such as Wakie Bakie with two fried eggs, jalapeños and steak, take on a Latin flair and make last night’s sins melt away. Beer, lotto and more snacks than a tiny tyke going through a growth spurt can eat in a sitting are also part of the market.
East End Food Mart, 148 N. Main St., East Hampton
Lonnie Fishman opened East End Food Mart with a desire to serve the community, and that’s precisely what’s gone down. You’ll find cold brews, sodas and ice cream made for balmy days and hot pizzas and wings ideal for listening to baseball on the radio during a throwback night on the deck. Plus, you can peruse the aisles for standard groceries. Indeed, the shop provides all the essentials and then some.
Citarella is not your grandma’s bodega. But we’d be remiss if we didn’t include the high-end, where-the-stars-shop market on this list. Also? Your grandma may have snagged fresh seafood there — Citarella has been around for more than 100 years. For the ultimate convenience, there’s personal shopping with local delivery. However, going inside is an experience all its own, with in-person interaction with fishmongers, full-service butchers, ready-made meals and the opportunity to grab a caffeinated beverage and enjoy it underneath an umbrella-clad picnic table.
One Stop Market, 299 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton
True to its name, this family-owned East Hampton store is a one-stop shop for a quick lunch at the full-service deli, produce, bagged snacks and arguably the best of all: Blue Duck Bakery Pies. There’s even an ATM if you’re headed somewhere cash-only. Launched three decades ago by Bill and Wendy Hall, it’s now a true family affair that includes their kids Lauren, Erin and Ben. Local delivery on orders $50 or more gives you the luxury of sleeping in or spending an extra hour by the ocean.
Corner Store, 291 Springs Fireplace Road, East Hampton
The name is straightforward, but the stock is eclectic. Inside the small shop in the corner spot of a brick strip mall, The Corner Store has games, candles and gag gifts (The book “There Are Moms Way Worse Than You” was recently on shelves around Mother’s Day.) You’ll also find stationery, greeting cards and — get this — an in-store post office where you can send them off before you get accused of forgetting someone’s birthday.
Schmidt’s Country Market, 146 Jessup Ave., Quogue
With a white exterior with green trim, Schmidt’s Country Market looks as idyllic as they come. However, it’s a blend of old and new. Daniel Schmidt opened in 2023 as a new iteration of Schmidt’s Market, which Daniel’s father, Dennis, helmed for 42 years in Southampton—Daniel remembered helping unload trucks in a 2023 interview with Southforker. Shoppers adore loading their carts with gourmet groceries and filling their bellies with ready-made meals and apps, including daily soup selections and tuna salads.
The Eastport General Store offers everything from sweet treats to games to laundry soap to houseplants. (Photo credit: Fortunato Photography)
Eastport General Store, 510 Montauk Highway, Eastport
This spot has taken the throwback idea of a community store and modernized it, with the option to shop online, high-end groceries, refillable soap, and even bath bombs. Not for nothing, a trip to the store is positively serene — the white-washed walls, string lights and indoor plants fit the Hamptons mold. Paper goods like sticky notes to label whose sandwich is whose, trivia games sure to make nights with friends more memorable and even creature comforts for our furry travel companions are also often in stock.
Red Horse Market, 74 Montauk Highway, East Hampton
Choose your own adventure at Red Horse Market. A salad bar, specialty butcher and catering menu allow you to customize meals that are just for you or a crowd. You’ll also find fruits and veggies, an artisanal bakery with fresh breads, cheese and charcuterie for easy entertaining and even acai bowls that hit the spot on a hot Hamptons summer morning.
Brent’s General Store, 8 Montauk Highway, Amagansett
A popular pit stop, Brent’s draws locals and tourists for its sandwiches and patio, featuring shaded picnic tables that provide a welcome break from sitting in traffic. The store’s deli has ready-made and hot foods, and convenience items include every flavor of Hal’s chips you could dream of having on the side. The store epitomizes the “rise and shine” idea, opening at 5:30 a.m. every day except Sundays, when the doors open at the “late” hour of 6 a.m.
Sagaponack General Store, 542 Sagg Main Street, Sagaponack
Established in 1878, Sagaponack General Store reopened in April after a renovation. Now, you’ll find a new porch and nod to the past courtesy of antique décor, like milk crates from Osborn Dairy, an old-timey cash register and framed photos from previous eras in Sagaponack. The penny candies on the walls also feel straight out of simpler times. Yet, the sandwiches, ice cream, salads and locally-sourced produce are fresh as you’ll find.
Harbor Shop, 20 West Water St., Sag Harbor
Set inside the space that housed 7-Eleven for decades is Harbor Shop, an open-late convenience store for Sag Harbor residents that launched about four years ago. While the store may not totally fill the large shoes left by Sevs, it does serve a dutiful purpose, offering everything from myriad cold beverages, snacks, grocery store staples, bagged ice, over-the-counter medicines, phone chargers and coffee. And although the store isn’t available 24/7, like 7-Eleven was, they are open until 11 p.m. every night.
Schiavoni’s Market, 48 Main St., Sag Harbor
Established in 1932, the Schiavoni family has been the premier grocer of Sag Harbor Village. Open at 7 a.m. every day, the store is renowned for its butcher department as well as its prepared foods and abundant deli counter. Additionally, Schiavoni’s sells its own homemade marinara sauce and consistently features several must-grab goodies, from artisanal cheese to freshly baked sourdough baguettes, that are made locally.
