Let's Talk Beach Bars!!

Good beach bar is always appreciated. The key is knowing proper location. I don’t know STX but on STT both beach bars on Water island are busy and seem to be doing well.  They have sufficient number of tourists during the day but are not overwhelmed, they are safe from nuisance of Charlotte downtown and do not feel like STT at all. They have loungers and umbrellas. One plays music and the other does not. So there is something for everyone.  

On the other hand Magens bay bar is horrible, loud, abnoxoius, has bad drinks and horrible food. It is also overrun by tourists from cruise ships.. 

Hull bay is OK but gets local traffic only. Doesn’t seem busy. There are two small bars for sale in Charlotte downtown. Each has asking price about $195K. They are not on the beach. 

As STTsailor says, a good beach bar is always appreciated.  My question to your friend would be does he believe running a beach bar would be relaxing?  While I have no experience running a bar, or restaurant, the good ones are full of hard working people.  Also, I think it’s a business, with all the incumbent up’s and down’s and not without stress.  Conceptually it sounds appealing and maybe a little bit of an escape but in reality nothing truly good is easy.

On STX there are plenty of beach bar/restaurant places. So I do not think there is room or enough business for another. Off season is a killer unless you have a solid yr rd local following.  

I know for a fact that owning one is anything but relaxing. The owners I know are ball & chained to their business.  In order to successful you myst be a “hands on” owner.

On STX there are plenty of beach bar/restaurant places. So I do not think there is room or enough business for another. Off season is a killer unless you have a solid yr rd local following.  

I know for a fact that owning one is anything but relaxing. The owners I know are ball & chained to their business.  In order to successful you must be a “hands on” owner.

Posted by: STTsailor

On the other hand Magens bay bar is horrible, loud, abnoxoius, has bad drinks and horrible food. It is also overrun by tourists from cruise ships...

Coconuts on the Beach on West end is no more.  Not sure if it closed before Maria or if Maria did it in, but there's nothing left of the place last I drove by.  Freedom City on West was also done in by Maria.  As others have said, low season is killer.  Now if you can run a beach bar like a beer garten in Germany, only open 4 months a year, then you're golden.

 The old bar at Sprat Hall beach on the west end burned down some years ago... perhaps you could rebuild it?

 

That restaurant didn't just burn down, it was set on fire by the local criminals (who were never caught, as usual). I know the old owners personally. They were robbed on a regular basis as were other beach bar owners in the same area. Not much has changed.

Owning a beach bar isn't all pina coladas and profits here...it's a dangerous occupation.

Posted by: stxdreaming

So yesterday while having a good few drinks watching the games a few of us were chatting. One of my buddies wants to move out of the US and relax. He was saying that he would love to move to St Croix and open a small little beach bar. Although he has this romantic idea of what he wants, I said I would post here so that the good people of this group could give some actual insight into the idea. He was saying he would love a small area where he could BBQ for people, and then have a small shack type set up serving drinks. I did mention to him that there was a beach bar which closed down about 2 years or so ago although I didn't know what it was called or why it shut down. So based on that do you guys feel that a beach bar would do well? Is there even a need for one? Any insight would be appreciated.

Happy Monday people!

I don't think a small shack will get a building permit. Building on or near the beach required a myriad of governmental sign offs these days.  Maybe your friend would consider a food truck? 

Food truck is the way to go but doubt they can get a liquor license.  Maybe beer.  There are several folks with less than a food truck, just a big BBQ trailer and a table.  Don't know if that's all on the up and up but nobody seems to be bothering them.  One guy at gas city.  Another I think next to the police station going into C'sted.

Another good food truck would be awesome, Killer Tacos (truck), Wendy Lou's (trailer) and the guy at Gas City (trailer)are the best by far. Find a good style food and do it. i don't know what happened to Crucian Inclusion food truck that was out by The Fred? It seems to have disappeared. The other trucks and trailers are just OK at best. 

I know somebody on STX who might be selling a food truck. If you are interested just click "Quote" below and reply and I'll get updated info. 

I had conch and butter sauce with tostones from the Bayside Kitchen tent at the Cane Bay Music Fest last Saturday.  It was some of the best I've ever had.  Bayside is the truck on the boardwalk between Angry Nate's and Centerline.  Based on their conch, I'm definitely going to be paying them a few visits on the boardwalk.

Bernie

Posted by: Scubadoo

Food truck is the way to go but doubt they can get a liquor license.  Maybe beer. 

Every truck I visit in STT sells beer, rum vodka etc, doubt it is a problem getting licensed.

Posted by: vicanuck

 The old bar at Sprat Hall beach on the west end burned down some years ago... perhaps you could rebuild it?

 

That restaurant didn't just burn down, it was set on fire by the local criminals (who were never caught, as usual). I know the old owners personally. They were robbed on a regular basis as were other beach bar owners in the same area. Not much has changed.

Owning a beach bar isn't all pina coladas and profits here...it's a dangerous occupation.

Yeah, I know Keith, too.  I also know Stacey and Bob who originally started Sunset Grill there back in '01.  Even back in those days, they had problems with robberies.  Same with all the bars on the north shore.  It's just a sad fact if you want to own a beach bar on STX, due to their remote locations.  Still, beach bars press on.  One thing I DIDN'T know was that the fire at Bernie's Beach Bar was intentionally set.  Sucks, but not surprising.

everyone has a romantic idea of island life, its generally NOT that, unless you dont have to work. 

reality hardly ever resembles the dream in your mind. 

but if he has a crap load of money, tell him to come on down. there are a few places that were damaged in frederiksted that could use new ownership, at a cost 

It seems to me that a good bar can really bring a good income. But your friend needs to pay attention to traffic and total costs. This kind of bigness does not always make a profit. There is a static on which 90% of entrepreneurs close their business in a few years (

Coconuts was closed long before Maria. If he really wants a beach bar I would bet that most on island are for sale. It's HARD WORK! Robberies are a huge problem for beach bars.