One of Montauk’s last bastions of affordable seafood has been taken over by another set of deep-pocketed investors — but these father-and-son buyers are vowing to keep it budget-friendly, Side Dish has learned.
Gosman’s Dock, named after the family that has run Montauk’s mainstay for eight decades, was sold to Stephen Deckoff and his son, Stephen E. Deckoff, last month.
The deal for an undisclosed price follows the elder Deckoff’s recent purchase of the infamous “Pedophile Island” owned by the late alleged sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein in the US Virgin Islands.
Gosman’s — which comes with some of its own legal baggage after two family members were convicted of illegal commercial fishing — has been a go-to spot for locals and summer visitors, including the Deckoffs.
“Montauk and eastern Long Island have played a large role in my family’s life for decades, and I’m excited about the opportunity for my son Stephen to establish a significant business presence on the iconic Gosman property,” the father, who founded Black Diamond Investment Group. , Side Dish said in an exclusive interview.
The water complex – which began as a soup stand in 1943 – consists of nine separate parcels including a large seafood restaurant, six retail shops, wholesale and retail fish markets, seasonal staff accommodation, a marina, fishing charters, boat hire and vacant land comprising 11, 6 acres in Montauk Harbor.
The purchase includes an option to build a 46-room hotel – a major incentive considering that permission for new construction in the East End is extremely rare.
Gosman’s Dock last asked for $45 million. It had been on and off the market since 2006, when it was listed at $55 million. The Deckoffs said they paid less than $45 million the asking price.
“I think we were attracted to the value that we could acquire it for and the fact that it’s a beautiful piece of real estate on the water,” said Stephen E. Deckoff.
The Deckoffs said they plan to preserve, not alter, the properties to keep them affordable.
The dock will reopen next April for the season without any major changes, with renovations scheduled to begin after the summer crowds leave.
Gosman’s name will remain, and some of Gosman family members are expected to help run various businesses.
“Everybody’s worried that somebody’s going to come in and ruin what we all love about Montauk, and that’s not our intention. We’re connecting to what makes Montauk great,” the younger Deckoff said
Both father and son spent childhood summers in the Hamptons and continue to spend each August mooring their 80-foot sport fishing boat in Montauk.
“I remember when I was a kid, my first lobster roll at Gosman’s,” the boy recalls.
“We’re going to try to cater to both markets, locals and people from New York and other parts of the Hamptons. We will operate [the assets] no major price changes.”
However, two members of the Gosman family, Bryan and Asa, may not be in the dock next year.
Both pleaded guilty to one count of criminal conspiracy in a decade-long criminal investigation into illegal commercial fishing and are scheduled to be sentenced in federal court in Central Islip on Nov. 12.
The Gosmans must pay $725,000 in restitution.
Their friend, Christopher Winkler, was sentenced in July to 30 months in prison for illegally harvesting 200,000 pounds of black sea bass worth at least $750,000.
Gosman’s sale comes as other private equity groups have bought hotels in oceanfront Montauk.
Once known as “un-Hampton,” for its rustic charm, most of the iconic mom-and-pop businesses have been usurped by the big money pouring into the still-active fishing town.
In 2022, Blue Flag Partners paid $35 million for two major purchases near Gosman’s Dock: $15 million for Montauk Haven and $13.5 million for Sunset Montauk. The deal included two adjacent lots and three beach lots.
That same year, Gurney’s Star Island — not to be confused with the famous Gurney resort — sold for $149.4 million to Safe Harbor Marinas. It was the largest commercial transaction in Hamptons history.
The property is now known as the Montauk Yacht Club, its original name.
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