The End of an Era at the Hampton Bays Shopping Center

The plaza that once housed the town’s beloved movie theater has quietly changed hands, closing the book on a saga of failed tenants and community pushback.

The last film flickered onto the screen at Hampton Bays’ movie theater back in January, and since then, the spot so many locals loved has quietly slipped into its next chapter. The little shopping plaza — anchored by that theater at 119 W. Montauk Highway — just changed hands. Former owner Walter Morris finally closed the sale in June. He kept the details close, ducking questions about the buyer or their plans and chalking it up to the lawyers running the show.

Losing the theater stung. People in Hampton Bays fought for years to keep it alive. Cathy Goepfert, who’s lived in town forever, called the closing a real loss. She put it simply: a neighborhood theater makes you feel like you belong. Now, there’s just a gap where that sense of place used to be.

Could CVS Fill the Gap?

Walter Morris owned both the theater and the rest of the plaza. The Regal chain was his tenant, but the numbers just weren’t there. He knew since 2019: this wasn’t going to last. The theater bled cash. Still, he kept talking to Regal, even offering to slash their rent in half, desperate to keep the seats filled, at least until he could find someone else.

He thought he’d found that someone in CVS. They were ready to sign — a 25-year lease, not just talk — but the town and neighbors pushed back, hard. Who wants a big-chain pharmacy if you already have one down the road? Who wants it instead of their last movie house? At public meetings, people spoke up. Nobody wanted another corporate logo; they wanted some local energy, something familiar.

Technically, sure, CVS could’ve moved in. But without the planning board’s blessing, nothing big happens in Hampton Bays. Morris said he spent more than $600,000 trying to get approval — he pitched a total overhaul, new buildings, fresh pavement, landscaping, the works. But the deal fizzled, and so did his patience.

When the CVS thing flopped, Morris circled back to Regal with a Hail Mary offer: stay as long as you want, pay zero rent. Regal didn’t bite. The math just didn’t work — not even for free. Locals daydreamed about art galleries or something quirky moving in, but 15,000 square feet with soaring ceilings isn’t exactly cozy, and taxes alone would crush a small business.

Morris wasn’t just sitting around, though. He kept sketching ideas: maybe a pharmacy after all, or a small market, or a medical center. He sent plans to Southampton’s planning and architectural review boards, laying out visions for a whole new facade.

Thanks for the Memories

Southampton’s Town Supervisor Maria Moore weighed in when the theater closed — said she was heartbroken, but also realistic. Streaming has changed everything; small theaters are fighting headwinds everywhere. She thanked the place for years of memories, and promised the town would keep hunting for new ways to support the arts.

And what about Morris himself? Actually selling the place after all those years wasn’t easy. He’d sunk 23 years into it, said it was the best commercial spot in the Hamptons, and he meant it. But after so much pushback, after pouring money and hope into projects that never happened, someone finally made an offer. It was fair, he said. At this stage, it just felt right. Time to let go.

Ty Wenzel

Ty Wenzel is an award-winning writer, designer, and marketing professional with a career spanning fashion, publishing, media, and digital innovation. A recent breast cancer survivor, she began her career as a fashion coordinator for Bloomingdale’s before serving as fashion editor at Cosmopolitan Magazine. Her work has appeared in numerous national publications, including The New York Times, and she is the author of a memoir published by St. Martin’s Press. In 2020, Wenzel co-founded James Lane Post, where she covers lifestyle, real estate, architecture, and interiors. She previously served as a writer and marketing director for The Independent. Her work in journalism, social media, and design has been recognized with multiple PCLI and NYPA awards, including best website design and best magazine. Wenzel is also the founder of the Hamptons-based social media agency TWM Hamptons Social Media, where she develops high-level branding and digital strategy for luxury clients.