This winter, East Hampton Village is welcoming a new wave of creativity and community through The Anchor Society’s Winter Shops Program. Now in its second year, the program has expanded from one pop-up shop to four, filling empty storefronts and bringing fresh energy to Main Street and Park Place. Each Winter Shop offers something unique, from sewing and sustainability to gathering, wellness, and the performing arts.
The collaboration with Alice + Olivia, which closes its East Hampton location each September and reopens in May, is a strategic fit. This winter, SewHampton and Our Fabulous Variety Show will take up residence in the Alice + Olivia space at 79 Main Street. Meanwhile, Naturally Good and Hedges Lane will join the Gathering Marketplace at 82 Park Place. I spoke with the owners of these new shops, Kathryn Reid, Anita Boyer, Kasia Klimiuk, Maggie Sheehan, Lauren Martin, and David Piacente, about their work, their inspiration, and what being part of The Winter Shops means for the village.
Meet The Winter Shops:
SEWHAMPTON
LF: Tell us a little about your business and what makes it unique.
KR: SewHampton is a creative sewing studio offering private, semi-private, and group lessons for all ages and skill levels, as well as alterations, a much-needed service in the East Hampton area. Our mission is to make sewing accessible, inspiring, and fun, whether someone is learning the basics, exploring fashion, designing custom home décor, or bringing new life to favorite garments through mending or repurposing.
People are also welcome to bring their own sewing machines for a refresher, to ask basic questions, or even to get help troubleshooting. Sometimes, we can fix their machines right on the spot. What makes SewHampton unique is our blend of craftsmanship and community. We provide everything our students need — machines, tools, and materials, so they can simply show up and create. Each class and service is designed to build confidence, connection, and pride in the art of making something by hand.
LF: What inspired you to take part in the Winter Shops program, and what does this opportunity mean for your business?
KR: It has been a dream since the very start of SewHampton back in 2014 to have a dedicated space where the community can gather, learn, and create together. From the beginning, we envisioned designing programs that bring people of all ages together for fun, hands-on activities that inspire creativity and connection.
We were immediately drawn to the vision behind the Winter Shops program and its goal of keeping Main Street vibrant during the off-season. SewHampton thrives on creativity and collaboration, so the opportunity to be part of a community-driven initiative like this felt like a perfect fit. Having a presence on Main Street allows us to introduce sewing to new audiences, offer much-needed alterations and tailoring services, and engage with residents and visitors in a meaningful way. It’s also a chance to collaborate with our partners, The Anchor Society and Our Fabulous Variety Show, and collectively contribute to a more active and inspired East Hampton village throughout the winter months.
LF: How are you adapting your products or approach to connect with the East Hampton winter community?
KR: We’ve designed our classes and services to embrace the cozy, creative rhythm of the winter season. From Sip & Sew evenings and Sunday Fun Day family sessions to upcycling workshops and home décor projects, our offerings invite people to gather, learn, and make something beautiful together. At the same time, our alterations service provides a practical, year-round benefit, helping residents refresh their wardrobes or refurbish existing pieces instead of replacing them. Sharing our studio space with Our Fabulous Variety Show at 79 Main Street allows us to create a dynamic environment where art, craft, and performance intersect in a truly community-centered way.
LF: Are there ways your shop gives back or supports other local makers, artists, or causes?
KR: This is an ever-evolving mission as we continue to get to know the community and learn how we can best serve as creative partners. SewHampton mentors aspiring makers and plans to expand outreach through local schools and nonprofits to make sewing, and creative self-expression, accessible to everyone.
Community collaboration is at the heart of SewHampton. We regularly repurpose donated textiles, support local artists and artisans through partnerships, and collaborate with organizations that strengthen the creative economy here in East Hampton. We’re especially grateful to The Anchor Society and Our Fabulous Variety Show for including us in this initiative and for their shared commitment to supporting local talent. Through our alterations and sewing services, we also promote sustainability, encouraging people to repair and reuse rather than discard.
Location: 79 Main Street, East Hampton
Website: SewHampton.com
Instagram: @sewhampton
OUR FABULOUS VARIETY SHOW
LF: Please tell us a little about your business and what makes it unique.
AB & KK: As the only nonprofit dance studio on the East End with a mission to make performing arts education and performances accessible to all, we run our programs differently from more traditional studios. We incorporate history to make sure we are teaching respect for the genre, as well as having fun dancing together. We do not have a strict dress code so we can promote body positivity. We offer classes for beginners at different ages to combat the stigma of thinking that if you didn’t start at age three, it’s “too late,” and we offer myriad enrollment options as opposed to a mandatory full semester or year term. We offer drop-ins, one-off workshops, and masterclasses with professional dancers.
Our most unique program is our OFVS Crew, a youth development program that offers even more opportunities to meet kids from different schools, take classes in NYC, and see Broadway shows, and we even take our dancers to perform in Disney World!
Along with our studio classes, we also run in-school and after-school programs in partnership with Project MOST, John M. Marshall Elementary, Ross, Hampton Bays Elementary, Southampton Elementary, the Southampton Youth Bureau, and on the North Fork with the Butterfly Effect Project, the North Fork Arts Center, with even more in the works!
LF: What inspired you to take part in the Winter Shops program, and what does this opportunity mean for your business during the off-season?
AB & KK: We have been looking for our own studio space since 2019, and in January, we started working to find space in the village to have more exposure within the community. Anita was introduced to the Anchor Society by East Hampton Town Supervisor Kathee Burke-Gonzalez. In their initial Zoom, Anchor Society reps were really inspired by the OFVS mission and the work we do, and felt we would be a great fit. New students have already been flowing in for classes this semester, and over 700 kids came into the studio for Halloween trick-or-treating! We are excited for what’s to come in these next few months as we utilize the pop-up space for unique community events and synergistic activations!
The space allows us to be creative with new programs we’re excited to expand our offerings for adults in the community, including jazz, dance fitness, improv, and Latin dance!
LF: How are you adapting your products or approach to connect with the East Hampton winter community?
AB & KK: The winter season is actually the perfect time for us, as we have always served the local community — the storefront with our logo and windows to see us in action makes it easier for us to connect with more people. Our advertising budget has always been $0, so this is a huge boost to our visibility.
Our Disco Ball on November 1 was a fundraiser to support our scholarship program. Now, more than ever, we need funds to meet the growing demand for scholarships. Our mission is to make performing arts classes and performance opportunities accessible to all, and that means discounts and scholarships to ensure that anyone who wants dance and acting classes can join.
LF: Are there ways your shop gives back or supports other local makers, artists, or causes?
AB & KK: One of our honorees at the Disco Ball, Anthony Madonna (director and curator of performing arts at Guild Hall), said it best, “We all benefit when we live in a surplus mentality.” We have always been about synergy and collaboration, and the entire setup with “The Studio on Main” (which we have lovingly named it) is exactly that!
We have partnered with Kathryn Reid and SewHampton in the space. Aside from running our programming in a shared setup, we are collaborating on community workshops and incorporating Kathryn’s skills to bring sewing classes to our camps and provide proper costumes for our shows.
It’s important to us to support businesses in our local community, and we have already felt an incredible outpouring from them since moving in. We are stronger together, and our incredible grant-writer, Brienne Ahearn, always reminds us of the statistics and benefits to the community and to students when they have access to the arts. This move has been a lot of work and stress, but it means moving a huge step forward in our mission, and for that, we are truly grateful.
Location: 79 Main Street, East Hampton
Website: ofvs.org
Instagram: @ofvs_2010
HEDGES LANE
LF: Tell us a little about your business and what makes it unique.
MS: Hedges Lane is rooted in a lifelong love of gathering. I come from a big family where every occasion — big or small — called for candles, a full table, and a little celebration. That spirit lives on in my shop, where I blend interior design and entertaining to celebrate the art of living through thoughtfully chosen tabletop pieces, party details, and favorite finds that make every moment and home feel elevated, warm, and inviting.
LF: What inspired you to take part in the Winter Shops program, and what does this opportunity mean for your business during the off-season?
MS: After fun pop-ups in Amagansett, I dreamed of expanding Hedges Lane into a full shop, but high rents made that challenging. The Anchor Society Winter Shops program gives me the chance to grow my business while contributing to a vibrant, year-round community in East Hampton Village. Staying open during the off-season helps bring both my vision and the Anchor Society’s to life — strengthening the local economy and creating a welcoming, mom-and-pop feel for locals and visitors alike.
LF: How are you adapting your products or approach to connect with the East Hampton winter community?
MS: This winter, Hedges Lane will offer neighborly prices and thoughtful seasonal pieces designed to fit everyday life in East Hampton. I want the shop to feel like a welcoming place to stop in, connect, and find inspiration — a space that reflects the warmth and creativity of the community even in the quieter months.
LF: Are there ways your shop gives back or supports other local makers, artists, or causes?
MS: I’m excited to connect and collaborate with local artists and makers to incorporate their work into Hedges Lane, both through my design projects and in the shop. I also plan to host small events that bring people together and strengthen our sense of community year-round.
Location: Gathering Marketplace, 82 Park Place, East Hampton
Website: hedgeslane.net
Instagram: @hedgeslane
NATURALLY GOOD
LF: Tell us a little about your business and what makes it unique.
LM & DP: What makes our business unique is our commitment to finding the best local, organic, and responsibly sourced products available. Our customers trust that we do the work to ensure everything we offer is healthy, nutritious, and thoughtfully selected. We also take pride in seeking out small, like-minded companies that share our values. The kind of brands you won’t find on big-box store shelves. We love discovering those hidden gems and bringing them to our customers, creating a shopping experience that feels personal, intentional, and special. Together, Lauren and I bring over 25 years of combined experience in the culinary and nutrition fields, which shapes everything we do, from the products we choose to the way we connect with our community.
LF: What inspired you to take part in the Winter Shops program, and what does this opportunity mean for your business during the off-season?
LM & DP: We were inspired by the dedication and vision of the Anchor Society, whose mission to keep East Hampton vibrant during the winter months truly resonated with us. Their commitment to fostering a year-round sense of community, ensuring locals have places to gather, shop, and connect, is something we deeply admire and want to be part of. For our business, this opportunity means we can continue operating year-round and keep our Montauk team employed through the off-season. As many know, winter can be a challenging time Out East, so being part of this program allows us to support our staff and maintain our connection to the community.
LF: How are you adapting your products or approach to connect with the East Hampton winter community?
LM & DP: We’re bringing our “greatest hits” to East Hampton, the favorites our Montauk customers know and love. Our Grab-and-Go offerings are especially popular, and we’ve tailored them to meet the needs of workers, parents, and kids who want convenient, nourishing meals throughout the day. By offering familiar favorites and reliable quality, we hope to make daily life a little easier (and tastier) for the local community this winter.
LF: Are there ways your shop gives back or supports other local makers, artists, or causes?
LM & DP: Absolutely. Supporting local talent and producers is at the heart of what we do. We source from local farms, and also feature local art and photography in our Montauk store. We’re excited to bring that same spirit to The Gathering Marketplace. It’s important to us that our spaces reflect the creativity and dedication of the community we’re proud to be part of.
Location: Gathering Marketplace, 82 Park Place, East Hampton
Website: naturallygoodcafe.com
Instagram: @naturallygoodmtk
Interested in Being Part of the Winter Shops Program? If you own a business that could benefit from a winter pop-up or have a storefront on Main Street or Newtown Lane that could host one for the winter season, the Anchor Society would love to hear from you. Learn more and apply at theanchorsociety.org.