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Where is the best place to get groceries?
Who has the best selection of fresh meat/fish?
Who has the best selection of veggies?
What about bread and other items.
Last time I was in St Thomas there was a K-Mart and
I think there is a Cosco or Sams type of store.
We will there next week for 7 days and I am avid cook and will
be dong most of our dinners.
Thanks for any advice
Kevin:
Depends on where you're staying.
My experience with the East End is the Marina Market (for all of your mentioned requirements).
F.I.
We are staying in a Villa called Maison Veldkamp (Estate Wintberg). The Villa is way up on the hill over looking Charlotte Amaliea. We will have a rental car so we don't mind driving.
We are just looking for the freshest stuff.
Is there a place where the boats come in that you can buy fresh caught fish?
I totally agree, Marina Market is very nice - lovely selection of viands... fruits and veggies, plus lots of gourmet fare. The Food Center near Frydenhoj is large, clean, and has a great selection of fruits and vegetables.
Some swear by the Fruit Bowl at Wheatley Shopping Center. Cost U Less (like CostCo) on Weymouth Rhymer Highway gets in lots of good vegetables and fruits, but in rather large quantities - check the size of your party before buying. And while in the area, Price Smart (like Sam's Club) also has nice variety plus the best rotisserie chicken to my taste on the island. You don't have to be a member of Price Smart, but you will pay 5% more.
For fresh caught fish, visit very early in the morning on a Saturday: " 'Round the Field", in the area of the Lionel Roberts Stadium as well as Frenchtown (Carenage). I'm talking 5-7am, now... and you will travel at your own risk with all the party-goers and assorted types you may encounter along the way ...
Your local contact should be able to help you with directions where necessary. I hope this information is useful!!!
Post Edited (10-14-04 19:37)
Thanks Davis,
Very helpful stuff.
On the same subject, we are picking a car up in St. Thomas near the airport and then high tailing it to the barge to St. John. We want to pick up groceries before going to our house. Is it much cheaper/better selection to shop in St. Thomas if time allows than to do it in Cruz Bay? And if so what would be the best and most conveniet place to shop. Anything in the neigborhood of the ferry dock? That way we will have little better idea of our time constraits. Flight comes in at 3 PM and last barge is about 6 PM so we wont have alot of extra time.
Thanks
Well, that's cutting it kind of close, because you have to wait for your baggage, then schlepp yourselves to the dock to get on your boat. That's eating up most of your time on St. Thomas. Most of the men I know are "sudden-death" shoppers, but women like to browse a bit more, so if you think you can do the shopping in an hour or less, go for it. Don't forget to factor in the checkout, which is bound to be crowded at that time of day. You could stop at the Food Center on the way to Red Hook via the Fort Mylner Shopping Center, or the Pueblo in Sub Base near the airport.
Better you should shop at StarFish Market upon arrival in Cruz Bay; I'm told they are open 7:30am-9pm daily. 340 779 4949
If you're staying at a villa, you could also check to see if your island manager can pre-arrange to have your villa stocked with your choice of groceries. You'll pay for the groceries, plus an hourly charge. Might be worth it in the long run to just provision for a light supper plus continental breakfast so that you can be leisurely during your first hours in the territory.
Thanks. We'll probably shop in Cruz Bay. I think I would probably be too nervous about missing the ferry otherwise. Checking with the villa manager sounds like a good idea too.
