Shopping boutiques that have cafes on Long Island
Tom and Cassie Justice are the owners of Sea City Vintage in Atlantic Beach. Credit: Linda Rosier
You can’t shop till you drop until you have a coffee, tea or pastry in hand at these boutiques.
A growing trend in the small-business retail sector is having a small cafe in the building so customers have another reason to pop in, browse and shop.
"More than ever, businesses are focused on creating immersive, hybrid retail experiences for customers who might otherwise shop entirely online," says Cassie Justice, co-owner of Sea City Vintage in Atlantic Beach. "You can’t just rely on a rack of clothes anymore; you have to give people a reason to stay."
Justice opened the shop with her husband, Tom, in 2022, and what began as a vintage store has since evolved into a community destination with an interior cafe, Island Roast and Toast. Today, Sea City Vintage draws regulars from across the South Shore, many stopping in for coffee and spending their mornings browsing. "It’s really become a destination," Justice says. "People come from Rockaway, Long Beach and beyond to make a day of it."
The concept draws in more customers for in-person shopping by creating a leisurely atmosphere.
"I love it because that way, you can sit down, drink some coffee, and think over whether you want to buy something or not," says Patricia Dowds, of East Moriches, a frequent customer at Lumber + Salt in Jamesport. "And they have great coffee, which is very important."
Lumber + Salt, an antique, garden and vintage architecture and design store, opened in 2020 and added its cafe within the shop two years later.
"We basically saw an opportunity for us to offer something above and beyond," says Brooke Cantone, co-owner of Lumber + Salt. "We wanted to offer an unexpected surprise that was a kiss on top of the overall customer experience, and coffee was a natural extension. The store has become a local lifestyle destination and creative hub."
Shops like these tend to host DIY workshops, pop-ups and other events that turn the stores into community spaces. Joseph DeBello, owner of Hitch and BesTea in Babylon, says his tea bar gives patrons something to do while they wait for a crafting session or after they browse the shop.
"When customers come in, they gravitate to the gift store and if they haven’t been to the tea shop, they come in and grab a drink," he says.
Back in Time and Elise’s Niece's Cafe, owned by a mother and daughter in Farmingdale, have a similar vibe. Customers will walk in through the front, browse the antique and vintage décor, and then end up in the cafe, located in the back of the store, for a sweet treat.
It's become a community meeting spot, says Jenna Tomeo, owner of Elise’s Niece’s Cafe. "It’s a huge range of people that come in."
Sea City Vintage
2001 Park St., Atlantic Beach
Debbie Perota, of Atlantic Beach, shops at Sea City Vintage. Credit: Linda Rosier
Staying true to its beach-town roots, the shop specializes in nautical vintage, coastal curiosities, mid-century furniture, housewares, clothing, and curated gifts from the 1950s through the 1970s. At the cafe, visitors enjoy hot and iced coffees, teas, seasonal toasts and rotating snacks, with avocado toast remaining a standout favorite. Beyond retail and coffee, Sea City Vintage has expanded its role as a community hub, hosting recurring vintage markets, pop-ups, workshops and creative events throughout the year.
More info 516-243-5147, seacityvintage.com
Lumber + Salt
5570 Sound Ave., Jamesport
Craig Schneider, left, and Amanda Schneider sit at the cafe at Lumber + Salt in Jamesport. Credit: Morgan Campbell
Co-owners Cantone and John Mazur are designers behind several signature East End projects, including Rose Hill Vineyards, Terra Vite Vineyards, Harbes Vineyards, Main & Mill House, Anker, Minnow at the Galley Ho, The Hidden Jem, The Watershed, Shippy’s and Red Horse Market. They offer an eclectic mashup of reclaimed lumber, architectural salvage, home decor, industrial finds, vintage artwork, lighting, repurposed furniture, candles, coffee, tea, local produce and baked goods.
"You don’t know what you’re going to find — windows, doors, lamps, pieces of architecture that can be made into other things," customer Dowds says.
Popular specialty drinks at Lumber + Salt’s coffee bar are the salted maple latte, matcha latte, chai tea latte and nitro cold brew.
More info 215-704-6588, lumberandsalt.com
Hitch and BesTea
37 E. Main St., Babylon
Connected by a doorway, BesTea complements Hitch with its selection of flavored teas available for purchase or enjoyment on-site. Credit: Michele Kats
DeBello calls Hitch "a giant Etsy that came alive," a description that makes perfect sense when you’ve seen the wide array of handmade items from vendors who apply to have their wares sold there. Hitch has everything from trucker hats to charm bracelets, soaps to suncatchers and luxury handbags to pins and patches. Other products include pop culture prayer candles, embroidered apparel, and cards and stationery with cheeky sayings.
A door in the middle connects Hitch to BesTea, so customers can walk freely between the two spaces. BesTea offers a variety of flavored teas, which are available by the cup or in packages for sale to make at home. There are seasonal menus and creative tea drinks, such as the sparkly Taylor Swift-inspired "SwifTEA," which comes with a special gift. BesTea also offers dirty soda, lattes and espresso and a Swedish candy wall.
Hitch and BesTea host frequent events such as macrame-making workshops, candlemaking workshops, paint nights and monthly book clubs. The store has a drop-in service, "Getting Craftea with BesTea," where customers can walk in and craft.
More info 516-519-2494, hitchlongisland.com
Back in Time and Elise’s Niece’s Cafe
441 Main St., Farmingdale
Jenna Tomeo, left, owner of Elise’s Niece’s cafe in Farmingdale, helps customers. Credit: Linda Rosier
Back in Time is a vintage shop selling unique home décor pieces. Customers can find just about any kind of housewarming gift there, from kitchenware to pillows to soaps to antique furniture.
Behind the vintage store is Elise’s Niece’s Cafe, which is fully ready to serve your sweet tooth. The cafe experiments with all different kinds of homemade cookies, cakes, brownies, Linzer tarts, cupcakes and other pastries and serves cappuccino, lattes and espresso.
There is also a courtyard, outdoor Cobb’s Corner Bar and Schoolhouse Play and Cafe, which offers baby and toddler classes, open play and birthday parties. During the summer, there is live music, markets, painting classes and a firepit.
More info 516-586-8443, backintimedecor.com
Newsday's Caroline Curtin contributed to this story.
