Take A Seat Next To The Stephen Talkhouse Family

Exterior of the Stephen Talkhouse

The Stephen Talkhouse—the ultimate East End family-operated affair–returns this summer with good tunes and times. We sat down with manager Peter Honerkamp and his children, Max and Ruby Honerkamp, who share more about their hot Hamptons institution.

Staff member Phil

How has The Stephen Talkhouse changed since its opening in 1970?

MH: The Talkhouse charm is that it hasn’t changed much over the past few decades. There have been some renovations and improvements, but when customers leave for the season and come back one, ?ve or 10 years later, they walk in knowing exactly where they are. This is mainly because you still see the same faces from the sta?, musicians and other customers. I think the nostalgia in a changing world is what makes people love and feel comfortable going to the Talkhouse. It’s great that generations of families can share that bond.

Hello Brooklyn performing at the Talkhouse

What makes The Stephen Talkhouse family so unique? What does each member bring to the table?

RH: The beauty of The Talkhouse is it’s an unpretentious place that encourages you to be 100% authentically yourself without judgment. I’ve never felt more at home or in my own skin than being around this motley group and it’s an incredible feeling to see that same sentiment resonate with our sta? and our customers, both of which feel like family at this point. Everyone brings something so di?erent to the table and it’s this collective energy that makes everyone feel at home and jive so well together. The banter is ever-?owing and the camaraderie is unlike anything anywhere in the world.

Staff member Ashley.

What differentiates The Talkhouse from other nightlife settings?

PH: We o?er a very casual, egalitarian vibe. We o?er the best live entertainment in the most intimate setting of any club, anywhere. We o?er three areas where patrons can ?ow back and forth to, hearing music, or not—commingling with a di?erent crowd in a di?erent environment. We have over 25 sta? that have been here over a decade, so patrons will always see multiple familiar faces. We like the people that patronize our place and we love our jobs. We know we have the best job in the world—we get to make people happy for a living.

Hello Brooklyn performing at The Stephen Talkhouse

What musical acts are you most excited about this summer?

MH: We actually will end up having our busiest summer in terms of national touring acts playing our stage. They all are going to be great shows, and if I had to pick a couple of the newer acts that I am excited to have for the ?rst time, The Heavy Heavy, The Dip and The Stews are high on my list. If you missed Cimafunk last year, make sure you check them out this year. The great thing about the Talkhouse is anyone can walk through that door and jump onstage any night.

Staff member EJ

Tell us more about Talkhouse Encore. What was the vision behind it?

RH: Talkhouse Encore captures the spirit and legacy of The Talkhouse in beverage form. It’s the idea that the show will go on and there’s always room for an encore. When closed during the pandemic, we were thinking of ways to pay homage to the bar. The Talkhouse energy is always consistent so we felt we needed drinks that did just the same. I realized when you go to a bar, the classic mixed drink never tastes the same—it could be a strong pour or a light pour, the seltzer may be ?at, the mixer is high-sugar concentrate and so on. Our goal was to make the classics taste as they should, with clean ingredients and great ?avor so you can focus on the experience of the night with con?dence that your drink will taste good. We have a new ?avor coming this summer, the Hampton Mule. It’s a refreshing ginger, lime, vodka spritz that we’re excited to share with our community.

The venue’s vintage-inspired interiors.

What do you see for the future of Talkhouse?

MH: I see the future of The Talkhouse, as long as my family and I are involved, to be staying true to the past and creating another generation that has great memories and experiences tied to the place. I do see an area that I would like to add to make the place more memorable and better. We are known for bringing well-known national and local acts to our small town, as well as fun parties with cover bands after 10 p.m. for dancing, fun and meeting people. I’d like to build on giving talented up-and-coming acts across the country a chance to play the room as they grow their audience. I want people to look at our schedule, see the ones they know, but stop at the ones they don’t and realize those are the ones not to miss. 161 Main St., Amagansett, stephentalkhouse.com

The Stephen Talkhouse’s electric stage

Staff member Will, Max Honerkamp and staff member Richard