How a Turkish Shepherd Built the Hamptons’ Most Famous Table

The cash drawer was empty. On June 11, 2010, Zach Erdem unlocked the doors to 75 Main with literally nothing to make change. By 5 PM, however, every table was full. Subsequently, a man who had spent his teenage years herding sheep in the Turkish mountains sat down on a bench across Main Street and wept. His restaurant—the same location where he once washed dishes for minimum wage—was packed with Southampton’s summer elite. Meanwhile, the American Dream was just getting started.

The Origin Story: From Shepherd to 75 Main Restaurant Southampton

A Newspaper in the Mountains

Zach Erdem grew up in Erzincan, Turkey, a remote village with no roads, no electricity, and no television. From age eleven to seventeen, he worked as a shepherd, waking at dawn to guide livestock up mountain paths. One day, while passing near railroad tracks several miles from his village, he spotted a discarded newspaper. The front page displayed a photograph of New York City’s skyline. Furthermore, that single image would alter the trajectory of his life forever.

“I kept that page for years,” Erdem later recalled. “I looked at it and thought, ‘If I don’t get there, I am going to die a shepherd.'” Consequently, at twenty-one years old, he booked a one-way ticket to America. The young man arrived at JFK Airport in 2002 with twenty dollars in his pocket and a yellow pocket dictionary. Additionally, he carried zero knowledge of English.

The First Word Learned

After spending two days essentially living at the airport, Erdem purchased a $13.50 bus ticket to Grand Central Terminal. That fare consumed nearly all his remaining cash. During the ride, he stared out the window at highway signs, puzzled by a recurring word. Eventually, he pulled out his dictionary. “Exit” became his first English word. Moreover, it symbolized exactly what he was doing—exiting one life and entering another entirely.

Through circumstances that combine luck and destiny, Erdem found his way to Southampton. There, on the very street that would eventually bear his empire, he walked into a restaurant at 75 Main Street and asked for work. Subsequently, the general manager hired him as a dishwasher. The salary barely covered rent, but the location provided something more valuable than money: education in Hamptons hospitality.

The Transformation: Building an Empire

Rising Through the Ranks

Erdem’s work ethic bordered on obsessive. He progressed from dishwasher to busboy to bartender, absorbing every lesson about service, clientele, and the peculiar rhythms of seasonal resort dining. Eventually, famed restaurateur Nello Balan noticed his potential and promoted him to manage Nello Summertimes, a premier Southampton destination. For a man who couldn’t speak English five years earlier, managing wealthy clientele at a luxury establishment represented a remarkable transformation.

However, the restaurant industry is notoriously brutal. Erdem was eventually fired from his management position. Yet this apparent catastrophe became his defining opportunity. The location at 75 Main Street was available for purchase. Subsequently, he gathered every dollar he had saved—from pumping gas, washing dishes, tending bar, managing dining rooms—and bought the restaurant.

Opening Night and Empty Cash Drawers

The numbers didn’t add up. Erdem had spent everything renovating the space, leaving nothing for operating capital. On opening day, June 11, 2010, he literally couldn’t make change for customers. Nevertheless, he unlocked the doors anyway. By early evening, 75 Main was packed. The following day brought more crowds. Subsequently, word spread through Southampton’s social network: something special was happening on Main Street.

Years later, Erdem described that first evening to Dan’s Papers: “After some time, I walked across the street and sat down on the bench. I saw a line into my restaurant and people enjoying themselves. I put my head in my hands and began to cry. I could not believe that this was my restaurant. A shepherd from Turkey was now the owner of 75 Main.”

What Makes 75 Main Restaurant Southampton Iconic

The Celebrity Magnet

Within months of opening, 75 Main became Southampton’s unofficial headquarters for the famous and powerful. The Kardashian family filmed episodes there during their Hamptons spinoff series. Moreover, Vice President Joe Biden dined at the restaurant, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker, Howard Stern, Kelly Ripa, Leonardo DiCaprio, Pierce Brosnan, and countless others. Patriots owner Robert Kraft became a regular, as did billionaire John Catsimatidis and fashion icon Paris Hilton.

What draws this clientele isn’t merely the food—though James Beard Award-winning chef Mark Militello’s contemporary American menu provides serious culinary credentials. Instead, it’s the atmosphere Erdem carefully cultivated: accessible glamour without pretension. Additionally, his personal presence matters. Unlike absentee celebrity owners, Erdem greets guests himself, often until the early morning hours.

Year-Round Commitment

When Erdem took over 75 Main, most Hamptons restaurants operated seasonally, closing their doors after Labor Day. Consequently, locals struggled to find quality dining options during eight months of the year. Erdem made a different choice: 75 Main Restaurant Southampton would stay open year-round. This decision required tremendous financial risk, as winter revenue couldn’t match summer peaks. Nevertheless, it transformed him from seasonal operator to community institution.

“I remember when most restaurants in the famed Hamptons were only open seasonally,” noted one industry observer. “The charismatic and pioneer visionary Zach Erdem kept his restaurant open year-round.” Subsequently, this commitment earned fierce loyalty from Southampton residents who appreciated having their favorite spot available in February as well as August.

The Tulum Meets Hamptons Renovation

In 2023, Erdem recognized that even successful restaurants require reinvention. He engaged Miami-based Bishop Design, a firm renowned for creating groundbreaking hospitality venues and collecting over 200 international awards. Founder Paul Bishop approached the project as more than typical renovation. “We saw 75 Main as an exciting opportunity to elevate and set a new benchmark for what a Hamptons space can look and feel like,” Bishop explained.

The resulting design blends airy Mayan influences with preserved coastal Hamptons aesthetics. Furthermore, the transformation positioned 75 Main for its next chapter: filming the third season of “Serving the Hamptons,” the HBO Max reality series documenting restaurant operations. “Erdem recognized the need for an overdue upgrade in the restaurant’s aesthetics,” industry sources noted. Additionally, the renovation attracted even more media attention to an already spotlight-hungry venue.

Experience 75 Main Restaurant Southampton Today

The Dining Room and Bar

Enter through French doors that open to Main Street sidewalk seating—Southampton’s premier people-watching location. Inside, hardwood floors anchor a space decorated with contemporary artwork, including pieces by photographer Raphael Mazzucco (Sports Illustrated) and musician Chris Brown. Copper ceiling fixtures provide warm lighting, while plants and coastal elements reinforce the relaxed yet sophisticated atmosphere. However, the real social center is the large center island bar, where Southampton’s power brokers conduct informal business over cocktails.

The Insider’s Take: Request a sidewalk table for maximum visibility, or position yourself at the center bar if deal-making is the agenda. European-style DJs spin global sounds Thursday through Saturday during peak season. Additionally, the restaurant operates from 7 AM to 11:30 PM daily—breakfast, brunch, and dinner—making it versatile for any meeting type.

What to Order

Chef Mark Militello brings serious credentials: the James Beard Award for Best Regional Chef in the Southeast, plus recognition from Food & Wine as one of the “10 Best Chefs in America.” His contemporary American menu emphasizes locally sourced ingredients with Italian, Asian, and Caribbean influences. Signature items include the Traditional Maine Lobster Roll—succulently sweet meat in a toasted brioche pull-apart—and the Roast Beef Hash, fork-tender pieces folded into roasted potatoes and topped with poached eggs and hollandaise.

The truffle parmesan fries have developed their own following. For brunch, the Old & Spicy BB cocktail (Bulleit Bourbon, Canton Ginger Liqueur, Aperol, lime juice, jalapeno syrup) provides perfect balance between spice and sophistication. Furthermore, the wine list has been curated to match the clientele’s expectations—extensive without being intimidating.

When to Visit

Summer weekends require reservations weeks in advance. However, 75 Main’s year-round operation provides opportunities most Hamptons restaurants cannot. September through May offers easier access, lower prices, and the same quality experience. Additionally, weekday lunches during summer provide celebrity sighting potential without the weekend crush. Local residents know that Monday dinner service often attracts interesting crowds—people who live in the Hamptons rather than merely visiting.

The Legacy: American Dream in Real Time

Television and Beyond

When Discovery+ launched “Serving the Hamptons” in April 2022, 75 Main Restaurant Southampton gained national recognition. The docuseries follows restaurant staff through summer seasons, capturing both front-of-house drama and behind-the-scenes tensions. Subsequently, HBO Max picked up additional seasons, expanding viewership further. “Everyone keeps calling me the male, East coast version of Lisa Vanderpump,” Erdem told reporters, referencing the SUR founder whose “Vanderpump Rules” pioneered the restaurant reality format.

Yet Erdem’s story transcends television entertainment. In 2020, he purchased the building at 75 Main Street outright, securing permanent ownership of the location where his American journey began as a dishwasher. “God is always watching you and hard work and smart work pays off,” he reflected. “My next goal is to go worldwide, in all of the hot spots in the world. Dubai, Miami, Los Angeles, New York City.”

Why It Endures

Fifteen years after opening, 75 Main remains Southampton’s most recognizable dining destination. The formula combines genuine hospitality with strategic positioning. Erdem understands that Hamptons success requires both substance and spectacle. Furthermore, his personal story—shepherd to dishwasher to empire builder—provides authentic narrative that marketing alone cannot manufacture.

As seasonal restaurants come and go, 75 Main’s year-round presence creates institutional stability. Locals rely on it; tourists seek it out; celebrities feel comfortable there. Moreover, the reality television exposure ensures continuous awareness among demographics who might otherwise never visit Southampton. The restaurant has become more than a business—it’s a case study in immigrant entrepreneurship, hospitality innovation, and the enduring power of Main Street positioning.

Visit 75 Main at 75 Main Street, Southampton, NY 11968. Call (631) 283-7575 for reservations, or visit 75main.com.

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