Sign up for our Newsletter

Alex Vinash and Brent Pelton inside the American Beech hotel reception and boutique located in Greenport’s Stirling Square. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The revitalization of Greenport’s Stirling Square will be virtually complete with the anticipated opening of American Beech hotel reception and boutique this weekend.

Proprietor Brent Pelton hopes the new 500-square-foot storefront will serve as an inviting spot, enlivening the entrance to the Stirling Square complex which also contains 1943 Pizza Bar, the Italian specialty store Basso, design studio Open Space as well as Pelton’s New American restaurant, also called American Beech.

“It’s really important to pull life toward the front of the square,” Pelton said in a recent interview inside the new space. “I’m super proud and I’m super excited.”

Pelton, a Manhattan wage recovery lawyer, purchased the Main Street property in 2014 and renovated the adjoining hotel rooms and anchor restaurant soon after. Some of the buildings were vacant from 2013 through 2015, although tenants for each of the storefronts had been secured by spring of 2015. Other infrastructure upgrades include making the complex handicapped-accessible, laying bluestone pavers over a gravel walkway and installing railings along stairs.

The reception area and boutique has been designed and curated by Pelton and his partner, fashion designer Alex Vinash. There you will find American Beech-branded resort wear and bags, as well as runway pieces from Vinash’s fashion line.

American Beech
The American Beech hotel reception area and boutique. (Credit: Vera Chinese)

The interior is accented with tropical elements and features ipe Brazilian wood floors, a hanging swing chair, colorful pillows printed with flamingos and eye-catching parrot-shaped lighting. You’ll also find a banana tree, which compliments the banana leaf wallpaper as well as the banana leafs printed on shirts for sale inside the shop.

“To me it’s like Barcelona meets St. Barth’s,” Vinash, who is originally from Argentina, said of the storefront.

He noted that all of the furnishings were locally purchased from stores ranging from nearby Beall and Bell to the Restoration Hardware store located in the Tanger Outlets.

Meanwhile, construction is underway to increase the hotel units from five to 11, which includes two apartments, bringing the total number of available bedrooms to 13.

“There is a significant demand for hotel space [in Greenport] and our guests love that they are able to stay and walk throughout the village,” Pelton said.

 

X
X