Sorry you don't see my point of view either Dominica. I am not degrading anyone by saying the 'types of people.' There are types who shop in bargain basements and some types who shop upstairs.I am simply saying that the people who enjoy shopping in those types of markets will seek them out and shop there. Just like people looking for high end will find those stores as well. Nothing harmful meant by it.

I am a commissioner on the Historic Preservation Commission for St. Thomas. It is not just my opinion, it is the opinion of the commission and something we are tasked to do. We will and are trying to help straighten out the mess.

In as far as history is concerned, I am aware that many don't know all there is to know about the island. I appreciate those that do, that are willing to share what they know. I hope someday, and we have talked about it, in having classes about the history, of at least the downtown areas, so everyone is on the same page. You should hear some of the things the taxi drivers make up! It is our fault that they do.

RL

Yes, there are plenty of high-end shops on STT. My concern (personally) is that the deals aren't such a great draw. It used to be that they had better deals AND had the hard-to-find merchandise to draw us in. I am concerned that they are losing their draw - that's all.

I only made this part of the vendor's plaza discussion because I was concerned that STT's focus is moving towards that end (low end) of the market. STT has not historically been a low end shopping port. Nassau has - but not STT. STT has historically been the gem....the diamond of the Caribbean. The place of sophistication and my own term for it - "cosmopolitan calypso".

Every marketing organization makes decisions about the market it wants to draw. Just because there are tons of people getting off of the ships seeking the 4 for $10 T shirts doesn't mean that STT should necessarily cater to that crowd. I just don't want STT to become "known" as the "$10 T shirt spot".

I'd also like to find a place to buy West Indian antiques on STT. Is there such a place today?

STT has the draw of being one of the naturally prettiest islands....the mountains, the beaches, the green spaces. It easily trumps places like SXM and Aruba in terms of beauty. Why not create public spaces that mirror the beauty of the rest of the island? Then again, I would also like to see lots of the rest of the island cleaned up...like the drive from the airport to the Red Hook marina. Why is that strip of road the ugliest drive on STT? Whomever heads STT tourism needs to wake up. I say give each taxi driver $100k and let them slowly toss it out of their window each time they drive that route....that is pretty much the result of driving people along that nasty stretch of road.

Everyone has their own ideas and my ideas are just that...ideas. I would like for STT to focus on the history, art galleries, fine shopping, fine dining. I think STT can get away with that.

What is STT's identity these days? What differentiates it from other islands? I think that needs to be the focus of discussions on where to take it next.

And, maybe this is superficial....but I think it reflects something.....
When I travel places and when people traveling contact me, the discussions is usually "what do I take?". Everyone knows that on STJ you take flip-flops and shorts/Ts....and when I asked my friend (the St Barts expert) what to take to St Barts, she said "take your best slip-on Gucci heels and your best jewelry.....and buy silk sarongs at the french market when you get there since they'll be better than anything you can get stateside....but really don't take clothing since they don't wear any.....just great shoes and jewelry"...

Ok, so how would we answer this for STT? Shorts and Ts? Jewelry and shoes? STT is kind of the mix of both...but leaning more toward the shorts and Ts side.

P.S. I would prefer it if Vendor's Plaza sold local crafts - not knock-off bags and sunglasses from Asia.

Thank you Blu. There is some movement afoot to sell repro VI antiques. There are one or two stores that sell West Indian style. The new folks will be repoducing Virgin Island antiques to keep it exciting and different .To buy real ones, there are auctions every year. Stores would probably be out of inventory all the time, as the stuff is very rare to find!

RL

Blu, there was a segment on Sunday night's NBC news about how Europeans are flocking to the US for bargains, because the dollar is so low. They gave pricing examples for popular merchandise like iPods and Levi's. The savings were substantial - enough to make up for the price of a ticket. I'm sure those types of bargains used to be the case in STT for both US and Europeans maybe 20 years ago.

But now that customs duties have been dropping for years in the States, STT can't offer those types of savings anymore. So, the stores have to find other incentives to get people to buy here since it's hard for them to compete on price on anything but fine jewelry.

When I look in the STX Avis, I'm always amazed and impressed with the ads by the jewelers. They're selling unique designs that are variations of the hook bracelets, and those make great gifts and souvenirs. I would love to see more marketing of the handcrafted fine jewelry rather than the imported jewelry from India and Asia.

If the people in DCLA were doing their job of enforcement, the Vendors' Plaza wouldn't be in the state that it's in now.

RonUSVI,
You are right and I was wrong. The synagogue is the first in the US. I must have heard what I said from a taxi driver! 🙂 I truly love the island of STT and have no intentions of ever leaving. That does not mean I am not entitled to my opinion! Honestly, I swear I have read that info and I will be cking into that. Now that we know that you are a Commissioner of the Historic Preservation Commission for STT, we will be looking forward to seeing just exactly what will be done. Just be sure to think of the little guy as well! I know of some locals that feel that the little guy is being squeezed out and in some ways I agree with them as well!
Blu,
I get your point totally and agree that it would be wonderful if local crafts were in vendors plaza.

I hope you don't mind me leaping in here. One of the original questions was how to get a spot in Vendors' Plaza. Good luck! I know people who have been on the list for more than a dozen years. There is one family who has 5 spots & I don't think the patriarch of that family even lives on the island any more.

There used to be a Gucci store, a Coach store. a Louis Vuitton shop (glad one is coming back) & a personal favorite of mine for designer clothing called Lion in the Sun. The key words are "used to be." We don't get as many high end customers & with the killer rents charged for good visibility plus the cost of doing business here in general it's really difficult to operate a high end store.

The shop owners pay rent PLUS taxes like crazy & I happen to know one vendor at VP who declares maybe 1/10 of her actual income. And her income is one I'd kill to have. It's a consumer-driven economy & instead of a good mix, most shops downtown depend on cruise ship passengers & frankly, most of them want to haggle over a $2.00 key chain in a bricks & mortar store. So there's the rub.

It's difficult to bring back a high end reputation once it's known as bargain basement. Why Main Street hasn't been closed to traffic I don't know other than the taxi drivers with the incessant "Back to the ship" throw hissy fits when the subject is brought up. Why so many in government (other than their vote) is beyond me. I have high hopes that the new government will be able to do some positive changes because they're sorely needed.

The best legal way to get a spot is to work for someone who has a spot but wants to do something else, and then do everything you can to convince them to give it up. It's happened to a number of people.

I've heard rumors that they're going to have local crafters selling at Crown Bay on some days. They're so desperate to stop the complaints about nothing being there, that they've contacted some of the ones that were at the Havensight Tree Lighting. They may be there as soon as next week.

If major cities in the States can rise from the ashes, so can St Thomas. It'll take vision and hard work, but it can be done.

Trade, I was afraid of that.....maybe too late to bring back high-end. And, closing Main Street to vehicle traffic - YEAH!!! I vote for that. Make visitors traverse the length of main Street - not park closest to their desitnation, shop and go. Make "the destination" something interesting and beautiful. Stell pan bands in the middle of Main Street! Palm passage restaurants.....diamonds.......lalique.......ohhhhh, I can see it now!

Sherri, I will keep everyone informed. I know there is a meeting tomorrow about the enforcement of the new barker rules. Unfortunately I won't be able to make it. We have a Commission meeting to tomorrow that will conflict.

Feel free to PM me Sherri, about any tidbit about our history and I will see if I can enlighten you!

Ronnie

They've done a truly remarkable job with Blackbeard's Hill. After seeing it, I'm very optimistic about the prospects for town.

I'd love to see performances by the Heritage Dancers and a scratch band helping to promote the Jamsie Project. It also has a more historical sound. The Heritage Dancers really know how to get the by-standers involved, and their dancing is very family-friendly.

ms411 town ca fall in place once people adhere to the rules and guidelines already set forth and stop running to their Senators to complain when rules are enforced. When the Senators have backbones, we may be able to move ahead.

RL

Hi Ron,

If I am not mistaken, the St. Thomas Synagogue is the "oldest in continuous use in the Western Hemisphere" so that would leave open the possible that another is older, but has not been up and running the whole time.