Trust me that it's an intangible dream on your part. The Department of Consumer and Licensing Affairs (DCLA) is in charge of licensing street vendors working from vans, etc. I could beat around the bush and take up a whole amount of space giving you all the whys and wherefores but your dream plan just won't work here. Cheers!

STT resident,
Thank you for pointing me in the right direction.....Now I know who I can get in touch with to follow through with my dream....Thx again!
Amanda:) 🙂
XOXO

A corner food trailer just had a "grand opening" yesterday on St. John. It is a Fish Fry stand. Two months ago a corner Snow Cone Ice trailer stand opened as well on St. John. It is more than possible. Personally I think they look really tacky and I am disgusted at having them be a part of our landscape in Cruz Bay. The newest two are not even flavorful, just regular steel van trailers. Streetside food can be really great for the food itself as well as the charm but these ones that just opened are just not very attractive.

-Josh

Hey Josh - whee is the "fish fry" stand ??

I was in "town" yesterday and didn't see it (thank goodness - I hope we don't get anymore)

Pia

Amanda - here is their website http://www.dlca.gov.vi/index.htm.

--Islander

Islander....Thank you your a doll!
The site was VERY helpful....The Lic. is very inexpensive too!

Josh and Pia,
My concession trailer will be basically a mobile enclosed pull behind style trailer , Decorated tropical with palms-Bamboo etc. to match surroundings and of course the Caribbean feel of life! It's not a garbage can with aluminum foil windows by no means... 🙂
I have invested over $20k in this brand new unit.It is very , very nice and will be extremely appeasing to the eye, in fact inviting...And will not be permanently affixed but rather mobile....I do understand both your concerns and can respect that thoroughly.....
Amanda
🙂 🙂 🙂
MERRY X-MAS TO EVERY ONE!!!!!
XOXOXO

Merry Christmas to you too! In St Thomas you will only be able to operate outside of the town area. No permits are being issued in the Historic District.
RL

Pia,

The Fish Fry place is located just past the Tennis Courts across from the Car Barge entrance if you were headed from the courts towards the Marketplace on the left.

hotchiquita: In retrospect, your post should have been on the relocation message forum on this website which is a forum designed to aid people planning on moving here to the Virgin Islands.

I do, however, stand by my original response to your post on this forum. The dlca website will give you basic information and licensing fees but where roadside vending licenses or general business licenses are concerned you're going to have to go through a long time-consuming process IN PERSON and/or through a local agent, with government agencies.

A assume that your rig is right now on the US mainland or otherwise outside the territory and has to be shipped to the USVI?

Have you done a PMV (pre-move visit) to research?

The local vendors who supply local food (fry fish, goat water, johnny cakes, chicken soup, beans and rice, etc) from basically unadorned but solidly equipped vehicles, have been here for many years, are "local" and well established.

I don't know how to say this more bluntly but I really don't think that your dream is going to fly. I realize in saying this that your basic ardour will decry the negatives and you'll suppose that you can reign supreme where many others have failed.

Please do your research very well. Good luck, Merry Christmas and cheers!

STT,
I am not at all surprised at your response ...I have done my home work and have spoken with an agent and dlca.
I have had the pleasure of visiting there and will be returning"in person" and start my "LONG time consuming process IN PERSON" 🙂 And have a price to ship what's needed there, once I receive my LEGAL docs. I have done much research via websites , phone conversations and most of your posts and after seeing what your line of business is there I can understand your negativity.....I'm in no hurry what so ever, I'm retired just looking to keep myself busy and I truly enjoy meeting, talking with and of course feeding people. What I have learned in life is not to let what people say blacken my soul but rather make me stronger at choices I choose to make, and have made and succeed....I truly am grateful to have met you...When I arrive in Jan. I WILL stop by your "Place of business" for a visit, and a drink and say hello to you..."Don't worry I do tip good"
Good day and best wishes
Amanda
🙂 🙂 🙂

We would all be interested in hearing how it goes once you get here.

hot, good luck on your adventure.....you have a dream and i hope it works out for you!!!

I just remembered one very exciting activity you will have to accomplish in order to open your stand once you move down here. Those in the food service industry will appreciate this. . . . . .getting your "food handlers card" or "health card".

I will not explain how to do this, it is a fundamentally simple card to get and you will have no trouble but half the fun is the "application process".

-Josh

I will never understand the need to try and "THROW WATER" on someone and the dream they have..............................

I guess some people are just angry at the world and don't want anyone else to succeed.........................pretty sad if you ask me

OMG there goes the neighborhood,lol poor STJ

West: Jest not!

Amanda, again I stand by my posts.

I'm sorry that you decided to do a flail on my business and thoughts. based on many previous posts.

Dylan, I'm amazed at your post which I can only presume is directed towards me.

Linda J's comments were appropos and were I not as outspoken as I am I would go along with and leave it at that.

There have been many times where responses to certain questions on this board which maybe come off as negatives are misinterpreted because the poster who wants to either move or set up a business here hasn't properly researched all the ins and outs. Then they get testy reading advice and perceived negatives, assuming they'll be the one who makes it when many of us have seen so many come and go with their tail between their legs.

The majority of longtime posters here (and again, this post should be on the relocation forum) has dwindled over the years. And the relocation forum only rarely hears again from those newbies who posted, moved, tried and lost. They most often NEVER come back and contributue to tell their stories. Some of them are transient youngsters to whom we're used who work as bartenders and servers for the season, but there are others who are searching for the dream and think they have a magic "catch" which will afford them, such as you, Amanda, not only as an income but a retirement stability.

Amanda, within just a few days of your first post on December 22 you've apparently already gone to the DCLA website, spoken to an "agent" and have decided that shipping your rig is fine where cost is concerned. All the best to you! Your perception of the negatives is understandable,

However, I don't understand your comment where you say, " I have done much research via websites , phone conversations and most of your posts and after seeing what your line of business is there I can understand your negativity...."

"My line of business and negativity?" Surely you jest?

My case rests.

Amanda, I wish you the very best in opening up. Apologies from an old poster. XXXX

C'mon STT. How many stories are on those islands from people who just showed up without any kind of plan or visit, no money, and only a dream. I can personally point to several very successful business owners down there who have one of those "hey, I just showed up" stories. I think yours was fairly similar. People went down on vacation and canceled their return ticket. And, now, look how those "dreamy" types are contributing to the local economy by having longstanding successful businesses and employing locals, supporting tourism and the community. There is another thread on here about Dependable Car rental. Know how they got to STT? They came on a vacation, having never been before - and never left.

And what's so harmful about someone who just might not make it? How many people on the relo forum (or used to be on the relo forum) have planned for YEARS, followed this forum's advice, made extensive PMVs, and STILL moved away from STT/STJ after a couple of years? We can all name some of those.

Life is about trying and failing - and trying something different. People who are successful are those who have tried a few different angles - and most have failed at some point.

Frankly, I think some of the people who live in the VI are against the opening of food carts, period. I think some of the people who live there feel that food carts are an eyesore and tacky - and decrease the value of their home as a vacation destination and general property. I can understand this since it probably does. But, just say that - and maybe put some legislation in place to limit the number of carts (as has been done in the historic district on STT).

All of the concern about people coming down and failing makes me wonder if there's some kind of homeless problem where non-locals have arrived, failed to plan, have no place to live and are draining local resources.

This woman's dream sounds more reasonable that those who come on here asking about showing up on STT with no plans to rent property - they just want to sleep on the beach and want to know if they can collect welfare. Now THAT would be a problem.

Bluwater, Well said...

Excellent Post Bluwater! Nothing more poignent than the truth.

Chiquita, as soon as you're up and running, give me a holler, I want to taste the food!!!!!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!