Rumor of Another 7-Eleven Gets People Talking

“Does the Town of East Hampton want two 7-Elevens?,” was the question that Amagansett Citizens Advisory Chairwoman Rona Klopman posed at the East Hampton Town Board meeting on Thursday night after she heard from construction workers at the former Villa restaurant on Montauk Highway that a 7-Eleven would be a new tenent.

Elaine Jones, another Amagansett resident, also relayed to the board the rumors she had heard about the 7-Eleven opening near the , in the spot that once was Villa 521 and is owned by the Principi family. There is one 7-Eleven in Montauk, which caused outcry from some resident when it opened in August because of its lower prices, neon signs, and being open 24 hours.

Town Supervisor Bill Wilkinson said it was the first he had heard about it.

When reached on Sunday, Yvonne Velasquez, Richard Principi’s sister and part-owner of the property, would not confirm or deny the 7-Eleven rumors. However, she said, “We are going to be changing it to a store. It will be opening in May. I will be happy to discuss it then."

However, neighbors are worried now. "All the locals are worried about the 7-Eleven opening up, both residential and commercial," including the IGA, said Eric Morris, the manager, on Monday. "They are all up in arms. Everyone is upset about it."

The immediate area has been the focus of a lot of discussion recently. , also owned by the Principis, will be the location of the . On Wednesday night, an application was discussed for affordable housing units on the open land between where the 7-Eleven is rumored to be and Ocean View Farm.

Thomas Preiato, the town's senior building inspector, said that while he did not know if the building would house a 7-Eleven, he said it is possible under the town code because, "We don't have anti-franchise code in place," and it is commercially zoned. The and are directly next door.

Preiato confirmed that the property has a building permit for interior alterations and an exterior building façade change. He said they are in the process of changing the use from restaurant to retail use. Whether the change of use will trigger site plan review from the planning board remains to be seen.

During the town board meeting, Klopman and Jones pushed to find out what could be done to stop another 7-Eleven from opening. John Jilnicki, the town attorney, said that state law prohibits the town from regulating a business based on actual ownership, meaning that the town cannot say who can or cannot operate a business.

Jilnicki also said the town cannot regulate hours of operation and most things that happens within the walls of the business. However, he said, the town can regulate some things such as the appearance of the building, drive-up windows, traffic and parking.

Councilwoman Julia Prince said, “The town may want to re-evaluate site plan triggers.” The 7-Eleven in Montauk did not require site plan review. 

Klopman asked the town to institute a moratorium, but Wilkinson said, “We haven’t banded franchises.”