“Where are you now?”
“I’m just passing the Lobster Inn, so I’ll be at your house in five minutes.”
Sadly, this conversation is no longer going to be taking place on Route 27, because Skip Tollefsen has just announced that his iconic restaurant, The Lobster Inn, has been sold to real estate developers, and the rumor is that the property is going to be turned into condos.
The new owners appear to not want any attention, and the new names attached to the 10 acre property is Peconic Bay Marina, LLC and Peconic Bay Residences, LLC.
The restaurant, which has been closed for the season, was sort of that understated, legendary, waterfront perfection of a place. Baked potatoes were always local, and so was the lobster, and the entire place was set on a gorgeous piece of property that you never really knew was there when you would drive by the place on the highway.
I know that Skip has been trying to sell it for a while, and I think all of us are really happy for him. But I’m gonna miss that place a little bit.
Do you have any Lobster Inn stories you wish to share? Comment below!
Since we left NY for CO six years ago, we still get to the Hamptons every summer. No matter how late our plane arrives, our first stop is the Lobster Inn for our first taste of the East Coast. We are sad our tradition will be no longer.
I grew up in the house straight across the water from the Lobster Inn. As kids we would sneak over and get free sodas from the wait staff. It will be missed.
The first time I ever came out east I went to diiner at the Lobster Inn
That signature dish.”SPLAT” was the best….every year we’d come out just to have SPLAT…Splat will be missed.
Pretty soon only rich people will be able to enjoy our waterfront. First Tiderunners now lobster Inn.l
Should we be expecting a swarm of people relocating to the Hampton Bays/Southampton area? How many sets of condos is the Town Board gong to approve? They took awayy TideRunners to save a builing that zero historic value (the original structure burned down years ago). Now Lobster Inn… All of the people they are expecting to buy up the prooperties will have to travel far and wide for any fun because that is apparently no longer allowed in the Hamptons!
so very sad i have been going to the lobster in since 1970 never will be the same going to the Hamptons just off 27 and stopping off for a great lobster lunch or dinner
I met Skip when i was 8 years old (1970). I worked cleaning shrimp or any other job he would give me every summer until we moved away in 1976. I am fifty now and still have a Lobster Inn menu hanging on the wall in my office…thanks for the memories Skip! It was one of the best times of my life…
I totally agree. It’s a shame. The way things are going we won’t even be able to afford to drive through the Hamptons.