The Anchor Society’s Winter Shops mission is to help revitalize the central commercial district of East Hampton Village by filling empty storefronts in the off-season with affordable retail, essential services, and pop-ups that residents want. By partnering with landlords, master tenants, and local nonprofits, The Anchor Society aims to keep more shops open during the slower months, ultimately boosting the entire community.
Cristina and Linda Buckley, a design-minded mother-daughter duo, are launching their new venture in the Alice + Olivia boutique on Main Street this month. Their shop, B Vintage, is the first off-season pop-up as part of the Winter Shops program. It addresses a growing demand for more gift, thrift, and antique stores in the area, as indicated by polling among Anchor Society members last winter.
Located in the heart of East Hampton, B Vintage aims to blend stylish second-hand finds with chic, home-centric gifts. Cristina Buckley, who formerly worked as Design Director at Schumacher and specializes in wallpaper and textile design, teams up with her mother, Linda Buckley, who previously designed cosmetic packaging for Revlon and Estée Lauder and operated an antique shop on Newtown Lane in the 1990s. Together, they curate a unique mix of vintage goods, including lamps, small furniture, linens, tableware, mirrors, and vintage posters — striking a balance between classic and fresh.
The collaboration with Alice + Olivia, who closes their East Hampton doors each September and reopens in May, is a strategic pairing. Stacey Bendet, Creative Director and CEO of Alice + Olivia, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, saying, “We’re excited to be partnering with the Anchor’s Society’s Winter Shops program to support local businesses and the year-round community — both visitors and locals — in the Hamptons! By participating in the Anchor Society’s efforts, we can help shops keep their doors open year-round, allowing small business owners to thrive.”
I recently had the chance to interview Cristina Buckley of B Vintage to learn more about her creative journey.
What inspired you and your mother to create B Vintage, and how did your backgrounds in design and antiques shape the shop’s concept?
We both love the thrill of the hunt. We love walking into an antique store or a booth at an antique show and getting that feeling of “Oh, there’s good stuff here.” We wanted to bring that back to East Hampton since we have very fond memories of the old mom-and-pop shops. I grew up with the cheese shop in the village, the newsstand where you could buy candy and newspapers, Victoria’s Mother with the most charming jewelry and knick-knacks, etc.
How do you curate your collection of vintage and second-hand items?
B Vintage isn’t about any one specific style or era — we are drawn to unique pieces that have a graphic quality or interesting visual details. I think my mom and I appreciate items that show their patina and have character.
With your experience in textiles and wallpapers, do you see B Vintage incorporating any custom or exclusive designs in the future?
I plan to make some custom pieces using my wallpapers — to make some boxes and desk accessories and cover them with my patterns — I just need a little downtime!
How is our community embracing B Vintage?
Immediately the day we opened, the community has been so welcoming and positive. So many people have come into the shop to say how excited they are about this initiative by The Anchor Society and that it’s a great thing for the year-round residents. I’m really happy to be a part of that.
Writing this piece was a genuine pleasure, as it’s a subject close to my heart. It’s uplifting to see so many dedicated to transforming East Hampton Village to support a thriving, year-round community. Later this season, another Winter Shop will launch, featuring South Fork artisans and makers, adding even more vibrancy to this local initiative. Stay tuned for details!
