New in Montauk: From Body Care to Bikinis to Beach Bags
The Beach Boutique and Spa at Montauk Harbor is a place that Kim Gatti of Montauk always wanted to open. A licensed esthetician, Ms. Gatti had worked in other areas of the business before opening a shop in a prime space on West Lake Drive with a wide view of the harbor and a clutch of fishing boats bobbing nearby.
The open space has been transformed from a kitschy clothing store to a hip boutique with light summery clothing and a private room for facials, body waxing, and other personal services. Pedicure chairs are lined against one wall, and clients are offered a massage while they have their toes touched up.
A basic manicure starts at $18. A glycolic manicure costs $25 and runs for 25 minutes. There are a variety of pedicures, including a beach pedicure with mandarin honey, citrus, and spices for $35. A lime zest pedicure with lime juice and oils provides extra hydration to soften and rejuvenate the soles of the feet. It costs $55 for a 50-minute service.
A vanilla and wild plum pedicure that uses a blend of vitamins, nutrients, and essential oils is said to send your senses reeling. After the mask is removed, feet are dipped into vanilla paraffin.
With Alison Lane, Ms. Gatti has collaborated on a body-care line called Beach Boutique that uses natural botanicals for extra softness. One batch, a pale pink, is as smooth and frothy as icing on a cake and smells yummy too.
A back room with a bubbling water fountain is used for body treatments that include a body scrub, facials, a back “facial” for stress relief, waxing, salt-scrub treatments, and a detox “body glow” with pulverized rock that is said to contain molecular properties to exfoliate and soften skin.
The clothing is for hot summer days. There are beach bags, cover-ups, and wide-brimmed sunhats. All products and gift certificates are available for purchase at thebeachboutiqueandspa.com. The spa is open seven days a week, until 9 p.m. on weekends.
“It” Items
Closer to Montauk’s downtown is Ingrid Torjesen’s Made in Montauk at 12 South Etna Avenue. The store, part of the space rented by Lila Yoga, is filled with summery items, including hand-painted and hand-dyed dresses for women, one a limited-edition bias-cut silk dress that Ms. Torjesen predicts will be an “it” item this season.
She acquires vintage saris from India and then transforms them into caftans, cover-ups, and sarongs. Ms. Torjesen designs and sews most of her inventory. “I literally get an idea or a flash of inspiration and then learn how to make it,” she said with a laugh.
No, she was not taught to sew by Granny: She taught herself only a few years ago using how-to books and online sites.
A favorite item in her shop is a one-size-fits-most cover-up that can be thrown over a bathing suit or matching slinky dress. “I found they worked really well, so I made more in different colors. I love color,” she said, sitting on a mound of handmade pillows of silk and velvet in turquoise, pink, blue, and orange.
She also sells jewelry by Brenda Perruzza, a noted jewelry designer, and will present a trunk show of her designs at the store on Saturday from 5 to 8 p.m. More designs are featured on her Web site, montaukdesigns.com.
Several feet east of Made in Montauk on South Etna Avenue is a new branch of Waves, a Bridgehampton shop, that will have its grand opening this weekend, said Ariana Li, who with her mother owns the two stores.
“Montauk is obviously picking up and is an exciting place to be right now,” she said.
In a shop just two blocks from the ocean beach, Ms. Li is ready to dress beachgoers in itsy-bitsy bikinis, cover-ups, jewelry, beach bags, and more. The Web site is wavesboutique.com.
Minkoff Pops Up
Rebecca Minkoff, a fashion designer, is opening a pop-up shop at the Sole East resort on Second House Road this weekend. Located on the main floor across from the lobby, it will offer handbags, footwear, sunglasses, and small leather goods, with prices in the range of $150 to $750. A complimentary tote bag and friendship bracelet come with each purchase.
The Surf Bazaar at the Surf Lodge on Edgemere Road is back in a space that is part of the main building. This year it has creations by over 30 designers, from gauzy tunics to Tori Praver bikinis to accessories.
And finally, the Montauk Movie has decided to reopen this summer. In the fall, residents were surprised to see a “for rent” sign on the building. David Rutkowski, who owns the business, said that he may have “jumped the gun” on that.
He decided to pack it in when he learned the exorbitant cost of new digital film projectors. He has since realized that quite a few films are still suitable for the 35-millimeter projector he uses.
This spring, Mr. Rutkowski completed a course to be a certified cycling instructor and will now offer Cinema Cycle in the mornings. He has moved some of the theater’s seats and will have indoor cycling classes in the mornings. “Star Trek Into Darkness” will be playing this weekend.