Community Stars 2025

Since 1925, the Candy Kitchen has been a beloved staple of the Bridgehampton community. Over the past century, it has seen a handful of owners, but for the last 44 years, it has been the Laggis family who have faithfully served generation after generation.

Gus Laggis, the family patriarch, immigrated to the United States as a teenager and achieved the American Dream when he purchased the Candy Kitchen in 1981 from longtime owner and friend George Stavropoulos.

Today, Gus continues to run the restaurant, now joined by his daughters, Jamie and Maria. Together, they have preserved the Candy Kitchen as a living time capsule—a place where the spirit of the classic American soda shop lives on. 

Join us at the historic Nathaniel Rogers House as we honor this year’s Community Stars: the Candy Kitchen and the Laggis Family!

At this event you can also join us in celebrating Nathaniel Rogers, famed 19th century miniaturist and former resident of the very home that now houses our Museum. In his honor, we’ve asked artists to create miniaturist-sized works (8" diameter)- and every piece is $238.00 in honor of the occasion. The mini-exhibit will be on display during the party on August 1^st and then only the following day on August 2^nd. All artworks will be displayed without artists names. Only after purchase will you know whose work you’ve selected! Part of this show will also be work by local artist Sabina Streeter with new portraits inspired by Bridgehampton’s history. All proceeds of the art sale go towards benefitting the Bridgehampton Museum.