Nestled in the coastal community of Shinnecock Hills is one of Hampton’s best-kept treasures – the Hampton Maid. Filled with a rich history of lasting family traditions and truly memorable moments, this family-owned hotel and restaurant is celebrating 65 years of offering casual luxury in a cherished setting, creating community and fond memories for both the owners and their guests.
John and Marion Poulakis first came to the East End from Baldwin with the intention to purchase a coffee shop in Southampton Village “in search of a better life for their family,” Tara Poulakis, who currently owns the business, said. What the Poulakis found was the Sail Inn, a strip motel with an attached cafe for sale in the Shinnecock Hills area. The couple purchased the property for $25,000 and opened the Hampton Maid in 1959, moving their young family into two of the five hotel rooms.
Since its purchase, the Hampton Maid has undergone transformation after transformation, elevating the Hamptons gem continuously throughout the years. John and Marion Poulakis built the cabins where the current resort rooms are located in 1982, followed by the hotel’s well-known windmill in 1984.
The next generation of Poulakis, Steven Poulakis and his wife Sharon, took the reins for the Hampton Maid in the 1990s. Continuing in John and Marion’s footsteps, the couple chose to raise their children, Tara and her brother Josh, at the Hampton Maid, keeping the family’s legacy deeply rooted at the adored destination. The two new leaders also acquired six additional acres next to the Hampton Maid, which eventually became LEED-certified suites in 2016.
Growing up at the Hampton Maid, Tara spent her time as a little girl helping her mother bake muffins and folding laundry with her grandmother. After school, by 2019, Tara’s heart led her back to her family’s legacy, where she took the wheel as proprietor of the Hampton Maid, now a 13-acre property. Following suit, Tara keeps the family tradition alive by raising her own two children at the Hampton Maid, Cash and Lex.
Bringing her own dreams to the hotel, Tara stated she aims at “creating a camp-style luxury resort while maintaining its family retreat vibe.” Since taking charge, Tara has opened the acclaimed R.AIRE restaurant, which was launched in 2020 with chef Alex Bujoreanu’s six-course tasting menu. R.AIRE now offers guests dinner in addition to its popular breakfasts, and Tara revealed that “Since then, we’ve expanded to include an à la carte menu featuring Spanish-inspired dishes, tapas and paellas.”
While the Poulakis have been elevating their family gem, generations of guests return to the Hampton Maid to create more memorable moments at the iconic hotel. “The families that started coming here to vacation with us when they were children, are now bringing their children and grandchildren,” Tara said. “For our 65th anniversary Instagram giveaway, we heard a heartwarming story from a family that was here during the summer blackout of 2003. They mentioned how all the guests gathered by the pool, where one played his guitar and sang while everyone shared an ice cream that had to be eaten before it melted. The family still has the flashlight we gave them, to this day!”
The Hampton Maid originally began as a dream for the Poulakis family, but has become a beloved destination for generations of guests who have made the hotel an iconic stop in Hampton Bays. From first weddings to family vacations, the Hampton Maid invites guests to a warm and welcoming retreat of serene luxury.
