New day spa, yes. Banco Popular, no

Rumors that Banco Popular, which has been scouting the island for its first branch here for months, will open at the new Greenleaf Commons development on South Shore Road near the Westin are apparently wrong. We hear the “bank presence” will instead be a start-up commercial bank called Merchants Bank, backed by several local business people.

This development is coming along and there will be some great stuff here, especially the anchor tenant, Dolphin Market’s new gourmet grocery store. There will also be a day spa (I don’t know what a day spa is but girls like them and it implies you can get rid of them for a day.)

Here’s what it looks like today and there has been tremendous progress here in the last month, although the developer is still running ads that say Fall 2007 occupancy. That seems a stretch. But, what do we know about St. John construction.

This entry was posted on Monday, October 1st, 2007 at 12:05 am and is filed under General News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

10 Responses to “New day spa, yes. Banco Popular, no”

1. CTC
   October 1st, 2007 06:01
   1

   If this “Merchant Bank” is coming to STJ, it’s a “big” business story. Who regulates it and has given approval? What is the level of capital? Who are the founders/funders? Will it be only commercial (services for businesses) or will it have a retail component? Only in STJ or in the entire USVI? Does it have a stateside parent company? Please inform us. CTC

2. wontongirl
   October 1st, 2007 06:27
   2

   Interesting- STJ needs a good dayspa. Glad to hear that is opening soon. Sounds convenient to Bongo.

3. Carrie in Fairfax
   October 1st, 2007 06:47
   3

   Ouch! “Get rid of them for a day?” Did we offend you in some way? Really, we can be nice to have around!

4. Jeff
   October 1st, 2007 07:34
   4

   Merchants bank has been working on this idea for years, and includes several long time st john residents that got fed up with our limited banking choices. They have had a branch open on St Thomas for over a year now and only heard that an atm will be at new site to make deposits and such, but would be great if it were a full branch. From what I they pride themselves on customer service, an unknown term on St John sometimes. Of course this all through the grapevine, not from personal experience, lets just keep our fingers crossed

5. St. John
   October 1st, 2007 07:48
   5

   I’ll be interested to see how the parking works for this complex. From the photo, it looks like off-street parking, where you pull out in the road. Hopefully not.

6. Ruth
   October 1st, 2007 07:57
   6

   Merchants Commercial Bank
   http://www.mcbvi.com/about.asp

   -Ruth

7. bjh
   October 1st, 2007 08:27
   7

   They pride themselves on customer service. That is really good news! Customer serivce is unheard of in the VI. ALL island business have always operated under the theory of we are in business to do – john Q public a favor and you all better be grateful!

8. stj_gal
   October 1st, 2007 09:58
   8

   I’m sure the Dolphin gourmet shop will be reasonably priced.

   (Guffaw)

9. RickG
   October 1st, 2007 11:37
   9

   Good news that business is good enough island that some of the local business people are moving in this direction. It’s great to have a local bank that understands the local environment.

   Cheers, RickG

10. chuck
    October 1st, 2007 21:25
    10

    “get rid of them for the day”!!!!!!!!!!!!???
    You guys are hysterical. Keep the spice coming! I love girls!!!

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