Hampton Coffee To Open At Riverhead Train Station

RIVERHEAD, NY — Great news for Hampton Coffee Company fans: A new location is set to open at the Riverhead train station.

Riverhead Town Supervisor Laura Jens-Smith announced Wednesday that the popular business would soon be a new tenant at the station.

After working in partnership with the MTA and the Riverhead Chamber of Commerce, the train station will be open to the public once again after years of remaining vacant, she said, realizing a longtime vision.

“Bringing in a tenant to the train station has been a major goal of the town for years," Jens-Smith said. "Coming into office last year I made a determined effort to make that happen, even as many told us that it could not be done. Today’s announcement is the product of changing the mindset in Town Hall, and bringing in new ideas to revitalize our downtown. I am so happy to welcome Hampton Coffee Company to Riverhead’s downtown.”

Realizing that transit oriented development is key to revitalizing downtown areas, Jens-Smith explained that she has made improving the area a priority.

With an eye toward tackling safety, she said, the supervisor ordered additional police patrols for the area, and worked with the MTA to install security cameras at the station. She also organized seasonal clean-ups and plantings around the train station that both beautified the area and invited the community to become part of the area's revitalization, she said.

Jens-Smith said she is also working with Suffolk County, the town highway department, and the MTA to move the bus station away from the front of the train station, in order to enhance access to transportation for passengers, and make sure they are able to exit and enter buses safely.

For years, Jason and Theresa Belkin, owners of the Hampton Coffee Company, have delighted customers on the South Fork with their hand-roasted coffee, fresh baked goods, and warm ambiance.

While the Belkins did not immediately comment on the new location Wednesday, they spoke to Patch about an earlier move to an Aquebogue spot.

In 2016,North Fork residents hankering for their Hampton Coffee close to home saw their dreams come true as a new Expresso Bar & Cafe opened in Aquebogue.

That location marked the company's fourth; the business also has stores in Water Mill, Southampton, and Westhampton Beach.

Personally, the couple, who have always had a hands-on approach to their business, welcoming longtime customers and maintaining strong ties in the community, while supporting local causes, including Peconic Bay Medical Center and the North Fork Community Theatre, said the Aquebogue location was the perfect fit.

"Our fans have been asking us for years to come to the other East End fork. There is a strong farm-to-table emphasis here, so we will fit right in with our local hand-roasted coffee; fresh bakery; homemade breakfast, lunch and snacks; and local staff," the Belkins said.

The first Hampton Coffee opened in 1994, the couple said.

"We truly are local in every way. Almost all our goods and supplies come from fellow Eastern Long Island purveyors. All of our staff are members of our local communities — they are your friends, neighbors, the college student down the block, those you go to church with," the Belkins said.

A roast-master at Hampton Coffee's Roastery in Southampton hand-roasts the highest-quality estate-grown coffee for the cafés and espresso bars and also, for the business owners' wholesale partners, the couple said.

"That's why our slogan is 'We're Roastin'," the Belkins said. "Most other coffee shops have no idea where their coffee comes from, let alone when it was roasted."

In addition, Hampton Coffee features true Italian-style espresso drinks — quality lattes and cappuccinos made by professionally-trained baristas using traditional Italian recipes, they said.

All baked goods are made fresh on-site each morning.

Hampton Coffee also has a custom-built, state-of-the-art mobile espresso unit.

"It's a Mercedes van with our entire espresso bar inside it. We donate it to charity events and customers rent it for their personal parties and business events," the Belkins said.