Some Southampton Residents Not Thrilled With Kardashians' Plan To Set Up Shop
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- The Kardashians are set to start filming in the Hamptons within the next week, and surprised Southampton Village Mayor Mark Epley by leasing a space to open a shop.
But already Tuesday, locals were concerned that the family might create chaos and ruin their quiet summer.
The retail district on venerable Job's Lane dates back to 1664, in the oldest English settlement in New York state. The elegant and sophisticated patrons of the chic and fashionable Hamptons were unnerved that the Kardashians might soon be setting up shop there.
"They're riff-raff," one man said.
"They live in California. They should stay there," a woman said.
"Our clients wouldn't appreciate that kind of disruption," another man said.
As Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were making headlines with wedding bliss in Italy, Kim's attention-seeking sisters – Kourtney and Khloe – want in on the attention too.
"They say they are renting 12 houses out here -- mainly for their staff," said Southampton Village Administrator Stephen Funsch.
But the village has been hearing from cultured residents, turning down their noses at what they call a trashy tabloid TV show in their midst.
Kourtney and Khloe Kardashian are fresh off their success with "Kourtney and Khloe Take Miami," and now have their eyes set on taking the Hamptons.
"The title of the show is 'The Kardashians take the Hamptons,' and the content of the shooting, is, they're tell us that they're just going to be following the family around, and film them in natural settings."
The village was told the cameras would roll only at private affairs, fundraisers, and benefits. But 12 hours later, the Kardashians signed a lease for a Job's Lane space, and next week will open a pop-up version of their successful DASH clothing boutique in SoHo.
"I assume that they're going to be filming here and there, but really, this is just another DASH Boutique and we're excited to be a part of the community," said DASH retail director Dakota DiSanto.
Now, the concern is that the Kardashians' presence and trailing paparazzi will cause traffic problems, and celebrity-seeking tourists will threaten public safety on sidewalks and streets if the family creates a scene.
But not everyone took issue with it.
"It doesn't bother me. We have a lot of famous people out here," one woman said.
"(There are) other people that come to the Hamptons and create chaos outside of the Kardashians, so I think to singularly, you know, pinpoint them isn't fair."
The village has strict filming rules and fees – charging $500 a day on Main Street. No shooting is allowed on the beach, but shooting is allowed inside private homes and private stores.
The mayor said that is why the family withheld news they had signed a contract to open a satellite pop-up shop for the summer season.
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