Big Planet, whose Mongoose Junction location is one of the largest retail stores on the island, is expanding to the other end of the Cruz Bay boulevard.
Big Planet has signed a lease to take over the Low Key Watersports space by the Beach Bar and plans to open the new store after a big build out and grand opening party in December.
(The Beach Bar is also taking some of the Low Key space.)
Low Key Watersports is relocating just down the street, to a new building next to Grande Bay.
Why expand?
“I’m opening the shop at Wharfside because when I have too much spare time I start hearing voices,” says owner Pretlow Majette. “Got to stay busy.”
That’s about the straightest answer you can get from Pretlow. Don’t know him? Check out our interview with Pretlow in 2009, below.
Longtime Wharfside Village business Low Key Watersports is relocating this fall to the brand new One Bay Street building next to Grande Bay.
“We’ve been at this location for 26 years,” says co-owner Ann Marie Estes, “but this new location has great exposure for us.”
Low Key moved their boats further down Cruz Bay Beach a couple of years ago when DPNR ordered changes for live-aboards and charters, so its boats are already directly across the beach from the new location.
Tomorrow, we’ll tell you what well-known St. John retailer is taking over the Low Key space.
The lovely bartender Holly serves up the first round in our rum punch tour of St. John bars.
Holly says she makes hers with light rum, dark rum, orange juice, pineapple juice, cranberry juice and a splash of grenadine. Orange on the rim, free floating maraschino cherry. (Plastic glass at our request.)
The High Tide rum punch: Happy Hour price $4. Cheers.
While the Northeast was getting slammed by Hurricane Irene, St. John awoke to a brief, but heavy downpour. And if the forecast for your upcoming vacation looks really rainy, don’t be discouraged. Your visit won’t necessarily be a total washout.
“The forecast may show showers every day, but that doesn’t mean it will rain the whole time,” says amateur staff meteorologist Russ Rader. “They’re usually of the passing variety.” (Serious storms notwithstanding.)
And 15 minutes after this morning’s shower….sunshine.
Meet Coral Bay residents Karen and Rob Vahling, who plan to run the proposed Coral Bay Inn at the Voyages building.
The Vahlings, along with business partner and part-time St. John resident David Witham will present their plans for the hotel to the public September 7 and hope their ideas, their community involvement and their backgrounds will win support.
“We owned a motel in Colorado for 14 years, as well as various short and long-term rentals, and David owns 13 hotels and inns in Maine,” says Karen. “We moved here permanently three years ago after I completed a degree in environmental communications at Colorado State University – with the intent of making a positive difference for Coral Bay’s reefs.”
Karen has worked for the Coral Bay Community Council and, now, the Island Green Building Association, and Rob has spent most of his time building the couple’s new house near Shipwreck Landing.
Read more about how the Vahlings discovered St. John, their background and plans for the Coral Bay Inn in our brief Q&A with Karen, here.
Just a year after Jolly Dog downsized from two locations to one, its Coral Bay shop is expanding.
Owner Jeff Donnelly is taking over space right next door to his store at the Skinny Legs complex vacated by Tracey Keating’s Awl Made Here leatherworks store.
“Tracy decided to continue her leatherwork from home, freeing up her space, and adding another room to my store seemed like the right thing to do,” says Jeff. “I’ll spread out a little, and I’m happy to carry Tracey’s products. We support local artists and provide unique items, which are a scarce commodity on St. John.”
Jolly Dog also carries glassware by Stepho, Lignum Vitae carvings and jewelry by Herman, jewelry by Betsy, recycled glassware by Nina and jewelry and original art prints by Annie Caswell.
Jeff himself is working on a new line of t-shirts made with eco-friendly ink that will also be available at Chelsea Drug Store and St. John Spice.
Stop in and check out Jolly Dog’s newly expanded store.
There’s not much on St. John that isn’t imported, and some lawmakers see those imports as a way to help lower power bills.
Legislative bill #29-0067 proposes a 1 cent per pound tax on all goods imported to the territory, with a provision to use a portion of the money to reduce power bills, though the St. John Chamber of Commerce questions its fairness.
“Although well intended, this would only further muddy the waters as to the cost of electricity, [and] would reward some members of the public’s consumptive behavior by subsidizing everyone’s electric usage,” the Chamber said in a message to members.
Would your cooler full of frozen steaks and pork chops count as imported goods?
The vacant Voyages building in Coral Bay (in better times above) is under contract with a buyer’s group that includes local and seasonal residents and a financial backer, which wants to add a third floor to the building and turn it into a small inn with as many as 27 rooms.
Their plans, which require a zoning change, also include adding a parking lot on a vacant lot behind the building.
If approved, the Coral Bay Inn will be managed by Coral Bay residents Karen and Rob Vahling.
“We think a small inn will bring a breath of life to Coral Bay businesses, and it couldn’t be in a better location, Karen Vahling said in a statement announcing the group’s plans. “The building has been vacant for years and the community needs some benefit, versus a degrading building.”
Karen is also executive director of the Island Green Building Association and says the inn will be developed as a green property, as environmentally friendly and energy efficient as possible.
Long time St. John resident and architect Rob Crane, who also serves on the Island Green Building Association Board, designed remake of the inn, which would offer rooms for about $200 a night, the group says.
A public hearing on the rezoning request is scheduled for Sept. 7. Details about the public hearing and the proposed hotel, here.
What do you think about turning Voyages into a 27 room hotel?
Cruz Bay’s Fatty Crab just closed for low season and will re-open in October, but we got in the kitchen shortly before they went on break.
Like David says in the video, they concede they’ve had some push back on their prices, but he also says none of their diners complained about the quality of what’s put in front of them.
See why those prices are on the high side, and why you might decide it’s worth it…below…
Looks like US Airways is offering some good air fares for a last minute trip later this month or September.
Get yourself down to St. John for a late summer or early fall visit. The crowds have thinned out and the water’s sure warm.
Check out St. Thomas fares from more U.S. cities here.
Any time fares are under $400, they’re considered good fares these days. What’s the cheapest St. Thomas fare you’ve ever scored? What’s the most you’ve ever paid?
Marriott has planted its flag close by, on private Scrub Island, just east of Tortola in the BVIs.
Marriott, which runs the Frenchman’s Reef hotel on St. Thomas, will make the Scrub Island Resort & Spa part of its new Autograph Collection.
Scrub Island, a 230 acre island, was developed as a resort by Florida developers last year, the first private island development in the BVIs in 15 years, Marriott says. It includes a marina, 67 rooms, suites and villas, restaurants and beaches.
Looks like you can book for around $400 a night right now. Fancy looking place!
Capt. John Brandi, from Palm Tree Charters, happened by Scrub Island a couple of days ago and shot a little boat cam video. Check it out….
