Shippy's Pumpernickels Restaurant East

A tradition in Southampton has been stepping into Shippy’s Pumpernickels East Restaurant for a drink, a hot lunch or a memorable dinner. Through the years, many people both famous and local have visited this Southampton establishment to eat, drink and be merry. It’s one of the great old-time restaurants with a feeling of nostalgia. Not to mention, Shippy’s also serves great food, with world-class service, as it has for over 55 years.

Nestled in a 1930s building that was once Southampton’s A&P, Shippy’s Pumpernickels East Restaurant has quite a history. In 1956, William “Shippy” Casgrain, a bartender at the famous Toots Shor Saloon in New York City, came to Southampton to purchase the Hill Restaurant. The nickname Shippy came from Mr. Casgrain’s service in the Merchant Marines. In his heyday of ownership, Mr. Casgrain entertained many of his former Toots Shor crowd when they visited the East End. He was quite a character, quick with a joke and always able to put a smile on anyone’s face. One longtime patron who knew him said, “He liked people and people liked him.” Famous friends he knew from his days tending bar at Toots Shor came by regularly. Jackie Gleason and Art Carney, who played Ed Norton on “The Honeymooners,” were pals of Shippy’s, as was Jack Dempsey, the great heavyweight fighter. Gary Cooper was known to stop by in the summer, as was Henry Ford II and Austrian-born actress Hedy Lamar. In fact, the legendary Herb McCarthy would pop in for a drink and visit with Shippy and talk shop. It was during this era that the famous sizzling hot steaks became a signature of Shippy’s, and they still are today.

Dan’s Paper
Hampton Tradition XXIV – Shippy’s
By T.J. Clemente