News of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

St. John video lottery operator sued for taxes

The operator of video lottery terminals at Wharfside’s Parrot Club and Larry’s Landing has been sued by the Virgin Islands government for not paying taxes.  The government charges that Southland Gaming of the VI has not paid taxes on its gross income since 2003. “Millions of dollars” are said to be owed. Southland had no immediate response to the lawsuit filed in VI Superior Court, according to the Associated Press.

Southland also operates terminals on St. Croix, St. Thomas and several other locations on St. John including Cap’s Place and the Laundromat.

St. John Cabinets for sale

Even while planning to expand its offerings to homeowners and builders, Debbie Grammer has put her St. John Cabinets and Interiors up for sale.  The business represents Elmwood Cabinets and Top Knobs cabinet hardware and is planning to add appliances from Wolf and Sub-Zero. Asking price is $425,000. 

This is Grammer’s second business in the Marketplace.  She and her husband started the Mail Center.

Islandia Real Estate, the property's listing agency, says Grammer is “now ready to take on new challenges," but "will work closely with a new owner to facilitate a smooth and successful transition."

In other business news, Islandia reports that a competitor, Town & Country Real Estate is "downsizing and consolidating" by closing its office at Mongoose Junction to centralize at its Coral Bay location.  A similar shift is being made by Holiday Homes: closing at Mongoose and concentrating on its Marketplace location.

Kind of odd to see two tenants depart Mongoose, given that the landlord and long-time island architect and builder Glen Speer has been generous to his tenants as they face a tough economy.   Maybe real estate is even tougher.

Gym in Paradise renamed, re-opened

The workout spot on the third floor of the Marketplace is now called ‘Hardware Abs.’ 

'Hardware’ refers to the gym's owners, the Bertolinos and the Swans, the founders and operators of St. John Hardware.  (originally I wrote they were the founders, but  in a comment Wilson Roberts corrected me.

"They bought St. John Hardware from Hardware Bob and his wife some years ago," Roberts wrote. "They did maintain Hardware Bob's tradition of high prices, but they added stock and a more reliable restocking policy, tore down the old building, which housed a gym in addition to the hardware store, and moved all to the new Marketplace."

We remember Hardware Bob, who was of course the only game in town.  He was a nice guy but his inventory was quite limited.  Behind his counter was his faithful dog, a German Shepherd I believe.  The Bertolinos and the Swans had vision when they bought Bob's ramshackle building and business, and their success is well deserved.

The swans and the Bertolinos/Swans expanded the small gym to become Gym in Paradise. Recently, they sold it, but - well, the deal didn’t work out.  So, they’re back in the exercise business.

The Islandia Real Estate blog says the place has been spruced up, the equipment maintained and working well, and the monthly dues are $65.  BTW, the yoga room is available for rent (party anyone?)

Patton Goldsmiths on YouTube

I have always admired Rudy and Irene Patton. 

From our first days in the Virgin Island, I knew they had two stores.  One on St. John, and the other in Aspen.  I thought, “How smart are these people?  Six months each place.  Great!”

YouTube is showing how smart they still are. Their 31-year-old business,  R&I Patton, has posted a video on the video sharing site and also linked to it from their own Web site.

It was produced by Bill Stelzer, a former graphics director for an ABC-TV station and consultant on a number of island-produced video, educational, print and computer graphic projects.  He said it took him half a day to shoot the raw material and then another day-and-a-half to do the final editing and production.

In the spot, the Pattons introduce themselves and show how goldsmiths, like themselves, hand-craft jewelry pieces.

Certainly the cost of producing a video like this is manageable for many other St. John businesses.  In fact, you don’t even need Stelzer (although he is darn good and reasonable).  It’s just that the Internet and computer and video camera costs are so low, anybody can go into show business.

Click here to see the video.

Mail Center merger a done deal

From Jason Corley, owner of the Mail Center at the Marketplace.

It is now official. As of May 1st Trevor Adams from ADM Wireless will be combining his business with the Mail Center.

We are very excited about his plans, and this will become a great service to the St. John community

Coral Bay's Jolly Dog Trading for sale

Two more businesses are for now sale while the owner of a third has cut its price.

The latest to go on the market is an icon of St. John, Jolly Dog Trading Co.   Owner Jeff Donnelly is asking $429,000 for the 12-year-old multi-store operation in Coral Bay. 

There are two retail outlets at Skinny Legs, and the main shop is located next to Shipwreck Landing. 

Donnelly calls it a “Once in a blue moon retail opportunity to own three profitable, well established businesses.”  He’s been thinking about offering the business for sale for several month and now, as high season winds down, he’s listed it with Town and Country Real estate’s Lori Walden.

Meanwhile, on the other end of the island, there are lots of businesses for sale, too.  The newest is the sports bar on the second floor of Wharfside Village  Captain’s Cabin was pretty controversial when it opened a few years ago because it has video lottery terminals and off-track horse race betting - not the kind of activity tourists would expect on a quiet island.  But there’s a listing for the place on Craigslist now, asking price $225,000.

And a floor below, the pizzeria and deli’s price has been cut 13% to $195,000.  “Newly renovated space with $40,000 worth of new equipment,” says the listing, http://caribbean.craigslist.org/bfs/1106846613.html.

By our count, there are almost two dozen St. John businesses for sale, from delis, gift shops and water sports to a gourmet restaurant.  It’s natural that owners would want to operate through the winter season and then throw a few feelers out to see if there’s interest.  Truth is, though, there’s not been much movement off the list of offerings for quite some time, only additions.

Live from St. John ... the Podcast returns

As Click and Clack would say, "We're back!"

The special guest on a new St. John Show #42 is Ella Anderson, editor/publisher of the St. John Sun Times. 

Highlights include a review of a new restaurant, chatter about the future of the Mail Center, and optimism that the crowds on island right now will stay through the summer.

Listen to the show. Press the "Play" arrow.

You can also download or listen to the show by clicking here.

Lots more 'historical' podcasts are available in the archive at http://barnako.typepad.com/news_of_st_john_usvi/podcasts/

No deal yet for Mail Center

A going-out-of-business sale continues at the Marketplace’s Mail Center where Jason Corley, the owner, has told clients he’ll be closing at the end of the month.  He's clearing out the store's inventory of copy paper, office supplies, packing materials, and so on in advance of his planned return to the States.

However, Corley is also working feverishly to find a new operator for the business which is a critical part of nearly 400 locals’ lives, where they receive mail and packages.

Prospects to keep the doors open have been in discussions with the landlord, the Marketplace, but so far, as of Wednesday morning, there was no deal signed.  Requirements for a lease deposit are said to be one issue, an island journalist said.  She’s been told the new owner is a woman who used to be on island and has wanted to buy a business for some time.

Nonetheless, Corley said, “It still looks good (for the Mail Center) ... We are staying open.”

Mail Center to close

Several hundred island residents will have to find a new place to pick up their mail after April 29.  

The Mail Center's owner, Jason Corley, said he has been unable to negotiate a new lease with the landlord, the Marketplace.  He plans to move back to the states.

This means life is about to get very unpleasant for locals and businesses, never mind villa owners who have used the business at the Marketplace to ship supplies to their homes.

In a letter to customers Tuesday, Corley wrote, "On Saturday, April 29th, the Mail Center will close its doors.  We deeply regret any inconvenience this will cause you."  He suggested customers make arrangements for a new mailing address by contacting Connections in Cruz Bay, Keep Me Posted in Coral Bay, or the cramped and inadequate Post Office in Cruz Bay.

The Mail Center's closing has been brought to the attention of Donna Christensen, the territory’s Delegate to Congress. Beverly Lockhart sent an e-mail.  She said she is one of 417 residents who get their mail through the business.  “As you are aware, the current US Postal Office is stretched beyond capacity and can not 'create' 417 new boxes,” Lockhart urged the Delegate to intervene with the Marketplace, “and plead our case for affordable rent for the Mail Center...as a public service.”

(A disclaimer: With friends, I (Frank Barnako) used to be a co-owner of the Mail Center.)

Pledge week at the Gym

An effort by the owner of Gym in Paradise to reopen his doors has drawn a rant from Gerald Singer, a longtime island resident and author of several St. John guide books.

The owner of the gym, Mark Dallas, took out an ad in the Tradewinds, suggesting that if 100 people prepaid a year’s membership ($780),  the gym could reopen.  It’s all a matter of cash flow, Dallas indicated.  He’s personally unable to put more money into the business, he said.

“How stupid does he think we are?,” Singer wrote.  He pointed out that just recently, the Gym was promoting a discounted three-month membership for $120.  “Then, (he) closed the doors to the gym and kept the money.”

The skeptical Singer is urging anyone who signed up to file a complaint in Small Claims Court on the third floor of the Boulon Center.

Gym Website: http://www.gyminparadise.com/aboutus.html