A new seafood shop could open in East Hampton as soon as this weekend.
Fish 27, located next on Pantigo Road, will take over the former , which closed this fall. Derek Miller, an owner, said on Monday that he had hoped to open Thursday, but is just dealing with a last minute snag with the new lobster tank that could push the opening back a few days.
The inside of the shop on Pantigo Road, a portion of Montauk Highway between East Hampton Village and Amagansett, has been revamped. Miller said after receiving a 15 year lease for the space, he gutted it from top to bottom — tearing down shelves and uncovering boarded up windows to create a light-filled store.
Miller, who has been in the seafood business for 15 years, took on the endeavor with his father Jay Gold, a Clio winning commercial editor and director and a former restaurant owner.
Tony Minardi, the former Claws on Wheels owner, has signed on to handle the catering aspect of Fish 27's business.
The shop will not only sell fresh fish, clams and crustaceans, but offer prepared foods, like fried shrimp baskets, seafood and garden salads, hamburgers, grilled cheese, among other items. Miller said he also plans to stock some groceries.
"Our goal is to stay open year-round and serve the local community," Miller said, adding he hopes to stay open 5 to 7 days a week in the winter. Though no menus and price points were up in the store just yet, he said, "We want to make sure the local community can stop at our store."
Miller said he and Gold had been looking for a location since last spring, passing on one in Sag Harbor and the Red Horse Market, which , due to its size.
Miller has worked for Inlet Seafood in Montauk and has experience in both the retail and wholesale sides of the fish business, while Gold will handle the business end.
He said his seafood shop will be the only one in East Hampton (outside the village).
In fact, two customers in Luigi's next door remarked how great it would be be able to buy seafood without going into East Hampton or Amagansett.
Sarah Burriesci, an owner of Luigi's, said she was happy to see another business go into the empty space next door. She agreed with Miller that the two businesses will compliment one another. "We will help eachother out," she said.
