Digging the New Biz Scene

Several new businesses have opened for the season in Montauk, and three of them, on the south Plaza, are owned by residents already familiar to Montaukers.

Keri and Laura Marino opened A Tale of Two Sisters in the space that was the Montauk Bookshop just weeks after they learned from John Keeshan, their next-door neighbor and the owner of the building, that the space was available.

Both young women worked at the shop before taking it over on Memorial Day weekend, and they have big plans. They’ve already opened up the space, making it brighter, added new lighting, and will feature local artists’ work on the walls, including some of Laura Marino’s framed photography. She is a certified art teacher and will be offering classes for all ages as well as, where age-appropriate, wine and cheese.

Keri Marino is a certified music teacher. She plans to hold open mike nights, evenings of acoustic music outdoors, and some instruction for children.

At the back of the bookstore, where the children’s book section is, a door opens out to an enclosed grassy area perfect for children’s summer events, all of which are in the planning stages and can be learned about by visiting the sisters’ Facebook page under the name of the business or on Instagram at ataleoftwosisters11954.

A bit farther south and appropriately closer to the ocean is Shark Bites, owned by Peri Allen, who has always been fascinated by sharks, which is evident by the collection of shark tooth necklaces that dangle from her neck. She plans to donate some of the store’s proceeds to shark-preservation groups. Although the jewelry section is dominated by shark tooth jewelry, many other pieces are also available.

A former owner of Peri’s Bed and Breakfast on Essex Street in the hamlet, Ms. Allen said that, with two young daughters, running the B&B was killing her. So when she heard Willow was going out of business, she thought it a good time to open a shop. Willow, she said, had quite a following, so she’s offering much of the same inventory, including clothing for the American Girl doll collection.

Ms. Allen is a seamstress who uses vintage lace fabric reworked into other clothing items, mostly for women, such as summer dresses, nightgowns, and Army jackets, but she also offers clothing for men and children, vacation-type games and craft items, ocean-inspired dishes, napkins, foldable wineglasses, and even a portable barbecue.

Turning from the Plaza onto Main Street, you’ll find the new Montauk Surf Shop, owned by Lourdes Lieder, Craig Lieder Jr., and Craig Lieder Sr., the owners for the last nine years of the Sunset Surf Shack on South Elmwood Avenue. The new shop is more kid-oriented, with surfboards, boogie boards, women’s and men’s beachy clothing, bags, hats, sunscreen, and anything else you can think of to use at the beach.

Formerly Ronnie’s Deli, the space has been split in two, with the other side an outpost of John’s Drive-In, selling ice cream and other goodies from noon to 9 p.m. for now, until 11 p.m. in season.

Farther east on Main Street is Shine. Owned by Georgia and Tom Flight, the store moved to where Share With . . . Montauk was. The couple also own Homeport Town right next door and a few stores in the Gosman’s complex. Shine, Mr. Flight said, will offer more fashion-forward clothing, as well as jewelry and other accessories.

And finally, over on Edgemere Road, at the site of the old Montauk Movie theater, there is SoulCycle, one of 43 studios owned and operated by Julie Rice and Elizabeth Cutler. The exercise studio will be open daily starting Monday, with classes available for all levels, sometimes with candlelight and always with music. The studio is the fourth SoulCycle on the South Fork, with the others in East Hampton, Bridgehampton, and Water Mill. Classes cost $40 per session. A full schedule is available at soul-cycle.com.