What’s Replacing Lidl in Westhampton Beach? The Wait Is Over

After weeks of speculation, Trader Joe’s rumors, and a revolving door of supermarkets, the nearly 30,000-square-foot Sunset Avenue space has a new tenant. A May 2027 opening is planned.

The supermarket guessing game in Westhampton Beach is officially over. And no, it’s not Trader Joe’s.

After weeks of rumors, wish lists and speculation about what would replace Lidl at 70 Sunset Ave., the answer is Holiday Farms, a family-owned Long Island supermarket chain with a decidedly different approach to grocery shopping.

Breslin Realty announced Thursday that Holiday Farms has signed a long-term lease for the nearly 30,000-square-foot space. The new market is targeting a May 2027 opening, according to Newsday.

Holiday Farms currently operates three supermarkets, all in Nassau County — in Roslyn Heights, Franklin Square and Glen Head. Westhampton Beach will be its first Suffolk County location.

For a village that has watched supermarket names come and go at this address, the latest arrival promises a fresh start — and a lot more than the discount groceries Lidl was known for.

A Different Kind of Grocery Cart

Holiday Farms plans a full-service market with fresh produce, meat and seafood departments, a bakery, deli, commercial kitchen, grab-and-go meals, and soup and sushi bars.

The chain also offers specialty and gourmet products, prepared foods, home delivery, pickup services and year-round catering.

In other words, Westhampton Beach shoppers can expect a different shopping experience from Lidl’s limited-assortment, private-label model.

The new store will be operated by David Mandell, whose grocery business includes the three Holiday Farms markets, a Locust Valley Market in Nassau County and two Key Food stores in Queens.

How Does Holiday Farms Compare With Citarella?

With  Citarella opening in Westhampton Beach this past spring, the village will soon have two markets offering extensive selections of fresh and prepared foods.

Like Citarella, Holiday Farms emphasizes quality meats, seafood, specialty products and chef-prepared meals. But Holiday Farms also operates as a traditional full-service supermarket, stocking familiar grocery brands and promoting weekly specials, digital coupons and a 5% senior discount on Tuesdays.

The chain’s advertised specials have included deals on everyday staples such as pasta, poultry, produce and dairy products.

Four Supermarkets, One Address

If the walls at 70 Sunset Ave. could talk, they’d have plenty to say about the grocery business.

Holiday Farms will be the fourth supermarket to occupy the Westhampton Beach location in just over a decade. Waldbaum’s closed in 2015 following the bankruptcy of its parent company, A&P. Best Market took over in 2016, followed by Lidl in 2021.

Lidl closed on Oct. 11, ending its five-year run as the village’s largest supermarket and the German discount chain’s only Hamptons location.

How Holiday Farms will fare as the new kid on the block remains to be seen. For now, Westhampton Beach shoppers can look forward to another full-service grocery option in town.

For more information: https://holidayfarms.com/

Angela LaGreca

Editor, Co-Founder/Publisher

Angela LaGreca, Editor-in-chief and co-Founder/Publisher of Spark Hamptons, is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist, producer, writer and comedian/host. Her TV credits include NBC’s “Today,” ABC’s “The View,” and, most recently, the primetime cable news program “Cuomo” on NewsNation. On the East End, she was the Creative Director at LTV, VP Features/Events/Photo Editor at Dan’s Papers, and has performed at Guild Hall, Bay Street Theater and the WHBPAC. Her publishing career began at Modern Photography, where she was managing editor. LaGreca lives in Manhattan and East Hampton and can be reached at angelatvmedia@gmail.com and angela@sparkhamptons.com .