What's new on STX

In addition to this news I understand that a Sears might be going into Sunshine Mall. They are currently installing a traffic signal in front of Sunshine Mall and the old Cost U Less. Still waiting for the cruise ships to return. Preparing for the holiday shoppers to come to F'sted!

We went out to Sandy Point on Sunday. For the first time ever, we didn't have to drive on that rutted road to get there and instead arrived by boat. Even with the road as bad as it is, it's amazing that more people don't visit this beautiful beach when the parks service has the gates unlocked on weekends during the winter season.

I'm delighted to hear about the Home Depot and the Sears. The island needs them badly. Now if we can just entice Walmart into putting in a super store!

I think that having Home Depot and Sears on St. Croix is a horrible idea! It will interfere with local business owners who cannot compete with big American corporations like these. We need to keep St. Croix quiet and not overrun with American commercialism like St. Thomas. Yes, I know we have Kmart and Sunny Isle, but the way it is now is at a tolerable level and we do not need any more commercialization, especially the type that would make it hard for Crucian business owners to make their livelihood. All this will do is encourage our youth to work for other people instead of being creative and starting their own ventures. There is a big difference between having money and having wealth, and these type of stores make it harder for our people to invest in local economic ventures. I do not want to ever live to see the day when St. Croix no longer resembles a typical Caribbean island, and the government needs to take measures to ensure that St. Croix maintains its quaint, laid back and non-commercialized image.

Dear Dominic,

I understand what you are saying, and I agree growth should be measured and planned.

But, as a person who purchased for a business here and always tried to by locally, I can tell you that both small business and private residents need more local options. There are many items that are not now available locally. If businesses/residents can't find what they want/need locally, they buy off-island, which isn't good for anyone.

This project, whether it's Sears or Home Depot, is in a commercial area, on property that already had a commercial use (the old Cost-U-Less building).

I'm glad to see this building reused. I'd like to see the old grocery store across the street similarly used. And I'd like to see more shops go into the "mall" at Sunshine Mall"

I think here is room for everyone. At least at this time, My 2 cents.

Linda J.

I can definitely understand the home depot...but I really don't like the idea of wal-mart coming to the islands. I don't live there yet, but I so enjoyed the idea of not having a wal-mart there. Wal-Mart is the epitome of evil to me...they have run out soooo many small businesses. I have done my best to not go to them & try to support the smaller businesses. The inconvenience is understandable...but I think that is what would make island living so much more quaint...hope i did not offend anyone with this post.

do cruise ships come to stx only certain months ?

St Croix has a American Airlines, Delta Airlines, USAirways, Napa Auto & Truck Parts, Avis rent-a-car, Budget rent-a-car, Hertz rent-a-car, cingular Wireless, Sprint, Kmart, Footlocker, UPS, Fedex, Terminix, Mc Donald's, Wendy, Kentucky Fried Chicken Subway, Coldwell Banker, Remax, among many other American Brands. What part of St Croix has a non-commercialized image?

Also, a few Business Owners may lose some earnings as a result of these new companies. How does this compare to the number of Non-Business Owners that will gain new better paying jobs?

Hello Matt,

They used to come somewhat regularly, a few a week, to the Frederiksted Dock. The two or three lines that included St. Croix however dropped it from their itineraries a couple years ago, stating lack of demand and crime. Some felt there was also politics involved. Since that time very few ships have called on St. Croix. Late last year Royal Caribbean began some night visits for refueling. You can read about it at http://www.virginislandsdailynews.com/index.pl/article?id=979205. There are various initiatives going on presently to revitalize Frederiksted and the Cruise Dock and begin having some ships back.

--Islander

When you do move here-check out the prices and you will see why many islanders would be happy with lower priced options.

After visiting STT, I hope that not very many cruise ships go to STX. I think a few would help the economy, but I my opion STT was way too commercialized and crowded. I have never seen so many jewlery and liquoir shops in such a small area. The way people stood at the doorways and tried to get you to come inside reminded me of a cheap carnival.
Sorry STT lovers, just my humble opion.

Mmmhhmmm...I have been there a couple of times...and I have checked out the prices. And I personally would still rather pay a higher price than to have the island over run with too much commercialism. Convenience is not a word that will be in my vocabulary once I get there for good--I know it and I am prepared for it. If the people on the island have been able to make do..then why can't I? I would probably make some ppl mad..but I would certainly be one of those people trying to keep Wal-Mart out of the islands. I am surrounded by them now & as stated before..do my best to stay away from them...& encourage others to do the same. I prefer to help out the smaller businesses & those who have worked hard with their own sweat & tears to make a living.

I don't think anyone who lives here wants to increase the level of commercialism. However, if it were possible to swap the KMarts for a Super Walmart with a better supply of grocery items and consumer goods, it would benefit everyone here. It isn't that this would take away from established small businesses. Things that aren't currently available people just have to do without.

It's especially difficult for F'sted residents, as they have to travel quite a distance even to buy groceries. As many people here do not have cars and can't rely on good public transportation, they have additional hardships to work through. A west end grocery store of some sort is needed. Plaza West is undeniably the best grocery store on the island at this point in time, but even that is quite a trek from F'sted for those without personal transportation.

I feel that cruise ships should be limited to no more than 1-2 per week. That would allow the flavor of the island to remain pretty much what it is, but also allow for the small mom and pop businesses around the island to make a decent income on the cruise ship days. This would help the local residents in a very direct way rather than them relying on a small amount of trickle down from taxes paid by other businesses to the government. The balance of the time the island would be as it is now... slow paced without large crowds in town or on the beaches. I think we could all cope one or maybe two days a week if we had an influx of visitors from 8AM to 5PM.

St. Croix used to have 2-3 cruise ships each week and it did not destroy the flavor or culture of the island. There is no reason to believe that a return to such a limited cruise ship schedule would create a different environment than it did in the past. It could mean the revitalization of F'sted, though, and would create a means of support for many people who currently are without jobs and without a lot of hope for that to change as things stand now.

terry,

The "cheap carnival" flavor of STT that you refer to is limited to a very small area downtown. Cruise ship passengers spend quite a bit of money each year and only a small part of STT is commercialized to accommodate their spending desires.

Alexandra,

I wonder if the types of shops cruise ship passengers seek can flourish if only 1 or 2 ships dock each week…

It's not just about shops, although some of those could also do quite well. It wouldn't be necessary or advisable for STX residents to open as many jewelry stores as STT has, for example. However, more could be supported than are currently open. The same is true of other types of souvenir stores.

Other industries that can be supported by extra tourists in the form of cruise ship passengers include restaurants and beach bars, excursion and tour companies of all kinds, water sports providers, etc. There are a lot of people on STX who are used to doing without much of anything for income who would be more appreciative of what they could make from occasional cruise ships than some of the shop owners on STT seem to be with all their sales opportunities.

Cruise ship passengers spend their $$ in lots of ways. I know from experience, as I've taken six cruises over the years, one of which brought me to STX for a day 10 years ago this coming week... and it was the wonderful experience I had here that day that led to my readiness to return here to live when the opportunity arose 8 years later.

Some of the locals I have spoken to said that they think one or two cruise ships a week would not be that bad. They don't want to see more than that...and all did not want the big chain stores to come in. This was from those who have been born & raised there. Perhaps when the time comes, a happy medium could be reached.

I think some of the concern on STX is that by this becoming such a competition between STX and STT about whether any cruise ships will come back to STX at all, the powers that be on STX have focused on renovating the cruise ship pier and waterfront area at such a high cost that they are now committed to making sure the ships do come back or risk losing face and possibly power. The problem there is that as part of the power struggle they may push for more ships than STX residents would ideally like to see come here so they can point later to their resounding success. We may get more ships than we wish for in the long run. It's just too soon to say.