Words mean a lot to me, so I wouldn't use the word tragedy. It is unfortunate and might portend those others with high WAPA bills to either raise their prices beyond that which folks will pay or just close their doors. Not a good thing for sure.

D***! I loved going to IHOP! It was just like going to one Stateside...what an awful loss...

This is just another business that has failed due to the stupidity of our government. WE NEED SOLAR AND WIND POWER NOW-WAPA
WAPA STANDS for WE ARE PAYING AGAIN!!!!

billd

Thor...is that you from Coki????

While the word tragedy has significant import, the word followed by four exclamation points suggests something quite different. Cut the guy some slack.

Ihops are closing in the states too.

There is MUCH more to this than meets the casual eye...

Sorry buddy. You're right I didn't see the four exclamation points.

STJ's Subway is gone as well! Same owner I believe.

Mountain Runner

This is a shame, not a tragedy.

Read the words. In his text he never calls it a tragedy. In his title he uses "Tragedy!!!!" Big difference. Read the words-cut the guy some slack.

I think some of us would feel more like"slack cutting" if the OP hadn't posted the exact same post - word for word - on the Relocation Board under a different user name.

So let me get this straight. Because you are not pleased that Thor posted in two places {but signed T. both times clearly not trying to hide his identity), you feel justified in misreading, then misreading his post again.

If you disagree with the content of his statement, contest it. If not, misreading his post another time doesn't further the discussion.

Ok folks how about agreeing to disagree with the use of the word tragedy.

PS: Discussions on WAPA & Electric are popular on the relocation board for those interested.

Thanks,

--Islander

A new IHOP just opened near my office here in Mount Pleasant. I haven't been there yet, and I didn't realize what I was missing out on till I read all of the posts here.... I will have to give them a try.....maybe..... 😉

Perhaps if the USVI government paid their utility bills the rest of the residents could afford their's. At least that is what I have heard (something about the government owing something in the neighborhood of $18,000,000.00. What's up with that?

It's a loooooooong story!

To my wonderful friends, I had no idea my words would cause such a ruckus, however, I defend my us of the word tragedy because of the overall impact of what is happening to the commercial impact of losing businesses. I've owned 12 businesses in the states and all of them were successful. Making them successful took a balance of management, hard work, and most of all perseverance. If STT can't seem to get it's costs under what is survivable, then the impact to the community is massive.

The impact are obvious; job loss without job creation equals crime, lack of infrastructure breeds discontent among the population of locals, a lack of business friendly enticements leads to no new business creation, a lack of alternative choices for the locals leads to boredom and discontent. I'm concerned abou all of the other businesses that should be on our island but will not come due to the lack of government control that gives proper support to help the businesses survive. This is a responsibility of our community to give the local population more choices that gives te island more disposable income to continue to b competitve against other island economies.

As a person who lives here, I want more choices and opportunities for the locals. I'm willing to use terms like "TRAGEDY!!!!" to continue to act as a beacon to initiate reaction that brings pople to recognize that these are businesses that we need. Imagine our little mall without all of the "anchor" ,(mainline), businesses within it. It's already struggling but without those choices, noone would go there and ultimately the grounds of the mall would close and be just another reminder of how the populous of St Thomas didn't do enough to save it's own local based economy.

Argh,

T.

addendum: A friend of mine said i hould give a more specific example of what happens when the government dosn't care enough to save it's own economy. I give you the example of Taco Bell, that's right the little cheap Mexican food spot on Hospital Grounds. After the guy attempted to put the Taco Bell store there, he spent a ton of money to get his store built, open, and trying to make money, when the government decided to close traffic along that area for road renovations. I agree that we need road improvements, however, in a "normal" circumstance, most governments will try their best to accomodate the businesses who are in that area. The guy lost everything and decided it wasn't worth fighting when no one would help him fight. (I wasn't here on the island at that time, so I've received the story through various other islanders).

I like having options, I like having more than one burger place to go to that is affordable besides Wendy's or McDonald's. However, it seems as though the loss of another mainline business such as IHOP doesn't really stir up emotions that the island is really losing out. I'm shocked. I own a business on island that caters to both the natives and to the locals equally. Customer service is always on the top of my agenda along with trying to control my costs. I'm sure that the owners of IHOP didn't know that WAPA was going to hike it's rates when they planned to open a location here. Until we really get fed up with how WAPA is running our costs through the roof, it will be business as usual, which means, we, collectively lose in the long-run.

I don't know about you guys, but I'd love to have an Arby's here, I'd love to have a Red Robin, Denny's or other options that not only give me more choices but choices that may not cost as much for the locals. I love my island, so I'm going to be emotional about it. I'm willing to fight the good fight with anyone wo is willing to stand with me to reverse the tide of high costs due to a government that isn't willing to take control of the situation and fight harder for the people.

For those of you who don't care, I hope you love those little lines on your L.I.A.C. bill, you deserve them.

Argh,

T.