Nothing against you Trixie 12 but I always have to laugh a little when this question is posted. Contrary to some believe, STJ is not a desolate outpost.
There are several very fine stores on the island. I am not as familiar with Coral Bay and the choices may be more limited there but Cruz Bay has a fine store callled Starfish Market. While not the mega stores we have on the mainland, it certainly meets your needs. In addition, there is a fantastice deli (Sunrise Market?) just outside Cruz that rivals many mainland shops.
The big issue is cost. Everything is more because it is trucked in via ferry. If you are concerned about prices, you can bring in frozen meats (use dry ice if >12 travel time) in a soft carry on cooler. Cereals are fairly pricey as well, but beyond that, the local stores are fine and prices are not that high that bringing everything from home can be justified.
If you cook with 'specialty' spices or sauces, bring those as the selection is limited.

Thanks for the update on the stores. It's been 3 years since we were there and we stayed on St. Thomas. Our time was taken up with snorkeling and not on grocery stores. For us, two weeks is a long time and we like to do most of our cooking ourselves. The home we have rented is near Kiddle Bay so I am looking at Coral Bay grocery stores but you know, right now, it's snowing here in Virgina and I just want to be there. Again, Thanks!

One thing to keep in mind if you do decide to bring meat down with you are the (relatively) new TSA regulations that require all checked-through items be closed in such a was as to allow screeners to open and reclose the package. That means you may not be able to count on coolers, etc. arriving as tightly sealed as you might have wished. Also, you may only carry a maximum of 4 pound of dry ice, and the container must be vented - not the optimum design for a cooler!

In light of the above, my advice to our guests is simply to purchase their groceries at Starfish or Dolphin markets, both have great selections of meats and anything else you're liable to need or want.

As you are staying 2 weeks (lucky) you can also consider taking a trip to STT on the ferry to shop as the STJ locals do. Prices are a little better and the variety is larger.

Starfish Market is an exellent market by mainland standards! I cannot imagine going from the Coral Bay area (where I hear there is a pretty good market) to get on a ferry to STT to go to the grocery store! (sorry Chris@work) just expect to pay 10 to 20% more. Well worth the price of leaving a day on STJ to go to the store. If I were taking meat from the states I wouldn't take more than beef jerky! Stop by the Starfish on the way in and plan other trips around another Cruz Bay activity, like lunch at the Lime Inn.

Thanks to all of you for the great suggestions. We can't wait to go to STJ. It's dismal here this time of the year. We will certainly not worry about our grocery supplies.

We have stayed each year for the past 2 years in December at Cruz Bay Villas just about 1/2 way "up the mountain" overlooking Cruz Bay (first right turn off Centerline Rd--Rte 10--past the Dolphin Market). While we have done most of our shopping at the Starfish Mkt, we have done some at the Dolphin. Of the two, the Starfish offers the greatest variety and is the larger.

We met folks who live in Coral Bay aboard their sailboat. The only market out that way is quite small and doesn't have near the variety that the Starfish does. We were able to drive at less than breakneck speeds from Cruz Bay to Coral Bay in about 1/2 hour via Centerline Rd so it's not that big a deal to get to the Starfish & back to Coral Bay.

Yeah, food is cheaper on St. Thomas, but one is going to have to add the cost of the ferry plus taxi and/or gas on car rental to the price of one's groceries.

Also living in Northern VA (Arlington), but we don't mind this weather so much! If you like snorkeling and/or sailboat trips, I strongly recommend both Breath ( http://www.sailbreath.com/index.htm) and Long Distance ( http://www.stjohnlinks.com/Charters/Long_Distance/Index.htm).

Have a great time in one of the most relaxing locations of the world.

Thanks Ed, for the information. We are truly excited. We are leaving from Dulles on 5/14. We can hardly wait. We met some folks that say they travel everywhere in the Carribean with a pull-on cooler. We were thinking of taking enough meat for about 4 or 5 days but using a carryon cooler with dry ice. We are rethinking that idea. Heck, if you can't afford the food, you shouldn't be going. Thanks again Ed.

Check with the airline before you use dry ice. The last I heard is that it is not allowed. Years ago we used to bring meat to St. John. That was way before Starfish, Dolphin and Simple Feast. I'm leaving on Thursday and guaranteed that all I'm bringing is my bag of spices. I take them down and bring them back. It's really too much trouble to take meats and fish with me. The prices are no more than a dollar a pound more for filet mignon, salmon and swordfish. Some are even priced the same as the better stores at home. The one complaint that I have is that Starfish has the highest wine prices that I have found. Try one of the other places after you check it out.

I think if you live here, its a good idea to buy dry goods on STT. If you are on vacation, time is more precious than counting dollars when you are paying thousands to be here(IE spending a day riding back on a ferry trying to save a few dollars). Pine Peace Market does have a little better pricing than Starfish. I would go to Pine Peace, then finish up with Starfish. You do have to watch the produce more at Pine Peace but they are cheaper because they dont pay the high rent costs that Marketplace requires of Starfish Market. Pine Peace Market is right next to the caravan auto parts store before the hill that you drive over to make it to the Westin.(the hills name is jacobs ladder)

gosh!!! people common!!! it's an island not a jungle. yes they have grocerie stores there with everything amercan. sometimes the stuff is cheaper cuz no tax. oh, i bet u want to know if you should bring your grass skirt as well right?geeez!!!

If you're going for two weeks, and renting a car, here is what we do. Rent the car at airport in STT. Take car to big grocery store on STT, load groceries in car, take car ferry to STJ. Car rental is usually less expensive and ferry prices versus cabs to redhook are a wash. Just make sure the car ferry will get you back in time for your flight. Then do your fill in shopping at one of the decent markets on st john. There are several, it's is more expensive, but can be managed.

We've been sailing for years and now are homeowners (part time residents) in the VI. We go to Sam's Club (Costco, BJs, or whatever) and purchase our meats (frozen chkn breasts, steaks, pork loins, ground beef, etc.) in Florida. The morning of our flight, we put everything in a large cooler. Duct tape the cooler. Put cooler in large duffel bag. TSA has opened/inspected only once over the last 10 trips we've made since 9/11. The duffel bag kept the cooler lid shut. From Tampa, the travel time is about 5 hours all total...from house to house. Meats are still frozen when we unpack and put them in our freezer in the VI. We bring our meats because we find consistency in quality and price and because its convenient for us to do it. Sometimes we bring paper products - paper towels, toilet paper - and/or ziplocs and tall kitchen bags because these items are significantly more expensive in the islands (rightly so because I assume the amount of space these items take up in container ship greatly adds to the cost for the grocery wholesaler). Everything else, we purchase locally.

Just a little story about traveling with meat and perishables. A number of years back we went to a friends villa on Abaco Island in the Bahamas - we were young and poor and decided to pack meat and food to save money. Our luggage was lost for 4 days and when it arrived it was filled with rancid meat and every feral cat on the island visited out porch to check out our useless luggage that week. Save yourself a potental headache and use the local grocery store. Maybe even treat yourselves to a night out at one of the great restaurants in St J.

Luggage never gets lost from the mainland to the VI!!!!

*smirk*

What are the hours of Starfish and Dolphin Market? We are going to St J for Thanksgiving 2006 and I can't wait. Our 3rd trip, first with kids, two boys 2 and 5. Where is Simple Feast?

Where is the best place to buy wine?

Hi Everybody,

Anyone with kids that have travled to St J before have any suggestions about activities on the island for them?

First New England: try reading through the zillions of entries on this board about taking the kids to STJ, including my own. We've taken our kids twice (starting when they were 6 and 9) and they love the beaches and the wildlife. It's not Disney World on STJ, but thank goodness, its a whole lot nicer- take them snorkling, play on the beach, look for fish in the water, land crabs on the land, donkeys everywhere, diving pelicans, boating, very laid back entertainment. But by all means, read all we have all had to say about taking the kiddles. Bring the sunscreen times 10 as us New Englanders burn easy! (we live in Mass)
Trixie, we went to STJ for the 4th time this past Nov, and stayed at Concordia on the Coral Bay side. There are two tiny but fairly well stocked markets there, we both forget the names but don't worry, you can't miss them. One is in a new, nice small plaza and one is behind a gas station, very dumpy looking on the outside but pretty decent inside. Overall, liquor isn't bad at all, tons of wine and beer choices, fresh produce is awful, basics are there but pricey. We saved money by bringing sugar and creamer packets for coffee rather than buying 5 pounds of sugar for example, packed granola, things like that. Plan on double what you spend at home for milk, OJ, cereal, dry goods, you might skip the fresh stuff for the vacation due to the poor quality BUT look for the markets in Cruz Bay to buy better local produce. We ate out mostly except for breakfast so others can give you more info maybe but you will find food and you will pay alot more than you're used to. Who cares, you'll be in paradise and its sometimes too hot to eat anyway!

I would not recommend Pine Peace Grocery store to ANYONE. The people
who work there are rude to tourists. Their prices might be cheaper
but alot of their stuff is OLD and they don't back their products. If you buy outdated milk....too bad...they don't care and you WON'T
GET YOUR MONEY BACK. Stick with Starfish and Dolphin Market.