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DiscoverUSVIMagazine.com
Shopping Adventures on St. Thomas
The streets of Charlotte Amalie seem like they’re paved in gold. Diamonds, rubies and many other precious gems abound here, too, in treasure-filled showcases. It’s easy to see why St. Thomas is nicknamed the “shopping capital of the Caribbean.” You’ll find the highest concentration of stores lining Main Street. The alleyways, built in the 18th century as passageways for exotic spices and molasses being off-loaded from ships in the harbor, today boast a maze of shops that brim with jewels as well as designer fashions, perfumes and the latest electronics. If you’re just looking for a T-shirt to take back home, check out Vendor’s Plaza, located across from the fire station.
You’ll find plenty of shopping prospects as you travel around the island. Yacht Haven Grande is a short walk from either town or the Havensight Cruise Ship Dock and offers many upscale stores. Havensight Mall features over 50 duty-free shops set among flower-studded walkways. Adjacent and across from Havensight are the Port of Sale Mall and Al Cohen’s Mall. Both offer a smaller variety of shops, although there are some real deals on liquor and tobacco. The Crown Bay Center, near downtown Charlotte Amalie, boasts specialty stores with souvenirs and handicrafts and is only open when ships are in.
Locals head to Tutu Park Mall. Kmart and Plaza Extra Supermarket anchor this air-conditioned enclosed mall. There are over 50 stores, including national chains such as Foot Locker, Marianne’s, Claire’s, Payless Shoes and Champs Sports. A food court, banks, post office and restaurants make this a one-stop shop for many folks. Natives flock to Pueblo Supermarket for enticing produce. In Red Hook, American Yacht Harbor and the Red Hook Shopping Plaza are the places to find beachwear, fishing tackle, pet accessories, tropical fashions and jewelry. There’s also a supermarket, pharmacy and bank with an ATM.
American Yacht Harbor
Red Hook
340-775-6454 • www.igy-americanyachtharbor.com
An Island Global Yachting Property located in the heart of Red Hook on St. Thomas’ East End, American Yacht Harbor is a center for boating, dining and shopping. AYH includes 134 slips for vessels up to 110 feet, restaurants and bars (check out the Menu Samplers in the St. Thomas Dining section) and duty-free shops selling boating and fishing supplies, diving equipment, apparel, home furnishings, gifts, spa services, mail services, art and jewelry. Dozens of charter boats, crewed and bareboat, sail from AYH.
Amigos Dockside Cantina – Mexican cuisine with open-air dining and harbor view. Serving lunch, dinner and to-go rapido. 340-775-1270
Caribbean Steakhouse & Saloon – Specializing in steaks, pasta and seafood in a fun, casual Caribbean atmosphere overlooking the marina and St. John. 340-775-7060
Dolphin Dreams – This eclectic boutique features artisan jewelry, hand-painted clothing and glassware, resort wear and home accents. 340-775-0549
Evolution Surf & Skate – An island surf shop featuring surfwear, bikinis, surfboards, skim boards, skateboards and much more. 340-715-0012
Island Time Pub – Hand-tossed New York-style pizzas, fresh salads, creative sandwiches, ice-cold beer and an incredible view. 340-774-2929
Keep Left – A roadside surf-tique featuring tropical clothing, surf wear, accessories, footwear and gifts for life in the left lane. 340-775-9964
Molly Molones – An Irish Yacht pub serving traditional Irish Pub fare: breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night snacks. 340-775-1270
Pure’ly Paws – This shop carries all-natural dog and cat foods and treats, toys, collars, shampoos, beds and gifts. 340-715-PAWS
Red Hook Dive Center – A full-service PADI dive shop with friendly professional staff and guided small group diving. 340-777-3483
Pueblo Supermarket
St. Thomas and St. Croix
340-774-4200 (STT) 340-778-0854 (STX)
Much more than a grocery store! The islands best prices on liquor and wine with six-bottle liquor quota carry on travel boxes. Fresh produce, meat and fish, snacks, beach supplies, magazines, postcards, cigarettes and so much more. Make Pueblo your first stop for all your vacation supplies. Two convenient locations on both St. Thomas and St. Croix. Number one in freshness, variety and savings… Pueblo is #1 for you!
Yacht Haven Grande
On the Waterfront, between Havensight and Downtown Charlotte Amalie
340-774-9500 • www.yachthavengrande.com
Located alongside the scenic Charlotte Amalie Harbor, Yacht Haven Grande encompasses a 48-slip mega-yacht marina, complemented by an array of exciting retail destinations, exquisite dining and entertainment options, recreational amenities and luxurious seaside residences. Voted “Best Shopping” by the Virgin Islands Daily News Readers Poll, Yacht Haven Grande boasts some of the most upscale and prestigious shops around, as well as many island favorites. Come enjoy the premier shopping and dining destination on St. Thomas!
Shopping Adventures on St. John
It’s easy to shop till you drop on St. John. So, get your credit cards ready, your walking shoes on and your energy in tow.
Cruz Bay is the island’s major shopping area, but savvy shoppers find small shopping centers and stores all the way to the eastern end of the island at Coral Bay.
Cruz Bay’s stores stretch from Mongoose Junction Shopping Center in the north just as you reach the North Shore Road to Gallows Point on the southwest point of Cruz Bay Harbor — with lots of small stores carrying eclectic merchandise in between. It can be tough to find a place to park in Cruz Bay. For a more relaxing shopping experience, take a taxi from your hotel.
With stone walls and lush landscaping, the open-air Mongoose Junction is the largest of Cruz Bay’s shopping centers. It has stores on several levels with short flights of stairs in between. You can shop for everything from T-shirts to inexpensive jewelry to objets d’art and much, much more. And when you’re really ready to drop, Mongoose Junction is home to several restaurants in various price ranges.
As you stroll through Cruz Bay, you’ll find shops along Veste Gade, the block that runs from near the post office to First Bank. Another handful sit adjacent to Cruz Bay Park, the busy square located near the ferry dock.
The flower-bedecked Wharfside Village is right along the beach as you come off the ferry and has numerous stores tucked away in its walkways and along the street in front of the shopping center.
Turn the corner to the right as you pass Wharfside Village for a few more shops. It’s a pleasant stroll along the beach road to reach Gallows Point Resort, where you’ll find a small gift shop.
Lemon Tree Mall on King Street, home of the venerable Lime Inn Restaurant, has a handful of shops, with most open late so restaurant guests can shop while they wait for a table.
The Marketplace Shopping Center sits farther afield in Cruz Bay on Route 108. Stretching over three levels, it’s home to the island’s largest supermarket, Starfish, and St Johns only hardware store, drugstore and bookshop. Tucked among such pedestrian offerings as a bank, the telephone company and an Internet service store, shoppers will find a growing number of gift shops that appeal to visitors. An elevator as well as stairs connect the floors. Parking is usually tight at the lower level parking lot, but you can usually find plenty of space on the upper level. Just drive straight uphill when you turn into the shopping center.
The Bordeaux Overlook on Route 10 is home to more than just a killer view. Shoppers will find a few stores carrying jewelry as well as a variety of other items. Be careful when crossing to the gift shop located across the street from the overlook. It’s a blind corner for drivers coming from the west, and they can’t see you until they make the turn. A small restaurant serves lunch at this stunning spot, making it a good place to stop on your round-the-island driving tour.
Shopping in the Coral Bay area stretches out from Skinny Legs Restaurant and Bar on Route 10 to Shipwreck Landing Restaurant on Route 107, with a concentration of stores at Cocoloba Shopping Center in between. As in Cruz Bay, the stores offer everything from made-in-St. John items to inexpensive souvenirs. Shoppers will find restaurants all along the route.
And don’t forget about the gift shops at the Westin Resort and Villas and Caneel Bay Resort. Along with stores across the island, they carry plenty of merchandise that will remind you of your island adventure.
Shopping Adventures on St. Croix
St. Croix is one of the Caribbean’s best places for items that you’ll never see in the same old mall stores back home. The island lures talented artisans who will take the time to chat while displaying their best locally made wares in shops or at outdoor fairs. Poke around the two towns’ quiet streets to discover small galleries and highly individual stores set like jewels in historic buildings. You’ll find additional shopping mid-island at the U.S.-style Sunny Isle shopping center.
Galleries contain an array of singular artworks, from watercolors or art photos for your walls to sculptures and pottery for your tabletops. Some shops are stocked with imported luxuries, many at 30 to 60 percent off U.S. prices, such as high-end jewelry and watches, loose or mounted gemstones, crystal, porcelain, perfumes, liquor and cigars.
In jewelry stores, look for the St. Croix symbols worn by many locals: gold or silver bangle bracelets made on the island, each style with a distinctive clasp. Or another specialty, jewelry set with “chaney,” the “china money” children once created from pottery shards found in the dirt around plantations.
Christiansted is shopping central in St Croix. Along Company and King streets, and the cross streets that intersect, you’ll find a nice selection of boutiques with clothing, handcrafted jewelry, locally created art glass, paintings and high-style home décor. Shops lining Strand Street and Kings Alley Walk offer even more sources for great purchases.
Frederiksted has fewer stores, but you’ll enjoy the lively atmosphere and extra shopping opportunities when cruise ships are in port. And for a take-home taste of St. Croix, stock up on local hot sauces and Cruzan Rum available throughout the island.
Here’s a happy thought: You won’t pay any sales tax here. And U.S. citizens, even children, can take home $1,600 worth of goodies without paying duty when returning from the USVI. That’s double the usual limit, and you can include up to five fifths of liquor duty-free plus an extra fifth if it is locally made. Some airlines do not charge baggage fees for boxes of local rum — tour guides at the rum distillery’s visitor’s pavilion can provide full details.
THE MEDICINE SHOPPE PHARMACY
Sunny Isle Shopping Center,
Christiansted • 340-719-6100
Your Medicine Shoppe® pharmacy staff would like to personally welcome you! Unlike the national chain drugstores, the Medicine Shoppe pharmacy is unique, offering only pharmaceuticals and health-related items. This commitment allows us to spend our time focused on the health care needs of our customers and concentrate on providing them with quality products and services so that they are able to adopt a more active role in the care of their health. Most major insurance plans accepted.
UNDERCOVER BOOKS & GIFTS
Gallows Bay • 340-719-1567
If you are looking for an independent bookstore in St. Croix, Undercover Books & Gifts in Gallows Bay is it. With a sweet little coffee shop next door, it has everything you need in a bookstore. You will find the latest in fiction and nonfiction, as well as a fantastic children’s section. Don’t be surprised if you run into one or two local writers while you’re there. They also have a great local interest selection.
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