What type of business do you wish STJ had?

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 3:07 pm

Does Ruth brew there and serve coffee? If not, just serve St. John Spice coffee.

nothintolose

Pete (Mr. Marcia) · Post by **Pete (Mr. Marcia)** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:13 pm

Okay, here's another one...a place that would rent fairly decent telescopes. If you're staying at a villa, a telescope can be pretty cool. During the day you can spy on other villas (Jorge) and at night the star gazing is awesome. Yet, most villas either don't have a telescope or, if they do, have a piece of junk that always seems to be missing the eyepiece.

nothintolose · Post by **nothintolose** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 10:32 pm

Mr. Marcia I am totally laughing my a$$ off right now - that is hilarious!!!

nothintolose

DELETED · Post by **DELETED** » Mon Jan 22, 2007 11:35 pm

DELETED

Ron_L · Post by **Ron_L** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 8:11 pm

mia wrote:Ron-L,
Do you mean a chi-chi al fresco cafe ...tables with umbrellas? A place to sip espresso while thinking...
"Maho or Hawksnest today?" Not sure Ron....kinda sounds like St. Barth to moi Could work though, especially if you serve and sell Ruth's coffee
It's fun to dream....huh?

I don't know about chi-chi... Outdoor seating, of course. Serve Ruth's coffee? Of course. Plus baked goods from someone local.

[dream] Ignoring STJ for a second, my dream coffee shop would be a comfortable place to have coffee, pastries, maybe simple sammies at lunch, and live music at night. I would have trained baristas who can make top quality espresso and espresso-based drinks as well as freshly brewed coffee. I would also offer coffee cuppings to the public and hold cupping classes, roasting classes and barista training for home espresso enthusiasts. Look at www.intelligentsiacoffee.com for an idea of what it could become. [/dream]

Of course, on STJ, it would just be a comfortable place to visit, talk and have great coffee and espresso. Probably not much need for the rest in paradise!

mia · Post by **mia** » Tue Jan 23, 2007 11:21 pm

Ron,
Your coffee shop sounds great. Trained Baristas? I love it! The only real Baristas I have ever seen were in Italy at the espresso bars...it is truly an art form.
I am a "home espresso enthusiast" and would jump at the chance to receive some training from a Barista. My daughter Carrie worked for a company that sells top of the line espresso machines; she has taught me all I know...but I still can't pull that perfect shot like she can.
You are right about St. John...great coffee and espresso are all you would need to make a perfect day even a little bit more perfect. I hope that day is sooner rather than later....mia

Ron_L · Post by **Ron_L** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 7:53 am

Hi Mia! Hmmm... New York... Sells top of the line espresso machines... Sounds like Chris Coffee in Albany. If so, that's where I bought my new machine in December (Izzo Alex MK II)!

There may be a coffee shop in your area that offers training. I took a barista training design for us home baristas at Intelligentsia in Chicago. Besides being able to talk to professional baristas and play with the big machines, it was fun and my espresso improved a lot since that class. I'm still a bit rough pouring latte art, but I practice every day!

Sorry, Pete... I didn't mean to hijack your thread (but I' so good at it!

). We'll now return you to your original topic...

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 8:26 am

Forget the espresso machine.

Although I freely admit that I am addicted to Dunkin Donuts, I would love to see a small little cafe with Kiss of the Jumbie coffee and some pastries. Nothing special, just good coffee and a snack.

LysaC · Post by **LysaC** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:29 am

Let me chime in here:

Hubby would LOVE a D&D on STJ. It's the only coffee he drinks. He'll drive 30 minutes away to get it if need be.

When we were on island in December, there was a little coffee place across from the entrance to Starish. It had coffee, espresso etc and books for sale. They also offered soy alternatives. I got a rockin' iced chocolate mint cappucino!

If someone were to open a shop and rent 1. guitars, 2. telescopes, then I'd need them to rent binocualrs as well.

We brought a pair of binoculars down the first year and it was great. Found iguanas sunning themselves in the trees, birdwatched, etc. Then, for the next three years we forgot to bring em and really wished we had em.

Robin in NC · Post by **Robin in NC** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 9:42 am

At that dream shop that serves great coffee and Dunkin Donuts and rents telescopes and guitars and binoculars, it should also have a few decent daily newspapers for sale. I know a lot of people go to the islands to get away from the news, and I understand that. But I enjoy the unhurried cup of coffee and a good paper to be read at leisure. Then if I read something discomfiting, I can put the paper down and look out at that aqua sea and those verdant hillsides and think, "Yeah, but for this one week, the world can go on without me."

By the way, I went to that coffee shop across from Starfish, and aside from spending more for a small milkshake than a person at minimum wage earns for a week, it's enclosed in the building. My dream place has to be open air, to allow for the afore-mentioned reverie.

Robin

MarciaMarciaMarcia · Post by **MarciaMarciaMarcia** » Wed Jan 24, 2007 11:03 am

Dare I suggest a driving range? Not a course, just a range.

RickG · Post by **RickG** » Sun Feb 04, 2007 2:29 pm

I'd love a market/provisioning service like Bobby's on Tortola http://www.bobbysmarketplace.com/. They have better prices and better produce than anything on St. John, and they deliver!

CShell1019 · Post by **CShell1019** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:54 am

Just cruising thru the thread with the temp barely hitting 10 and coffee in hand thinking that these guys don't remember the Wendy's on STJ! 'Course know nothin' 'bout their coffee or anything else they thaw but remembering the ferry pulling up to the old ferry dock and seeing the sign was a shock enough even tho I'd been warned! I'm not even sure I want to peek at all he "progress" much less hope for more amd one of the reasons I haven't been back to St. John to St. John is that "progress." You, young 'ems, sure define creature comforts differently but guess I knew that when they put in the Virgin Grande (Westin) with its TV's and swimming pool!

Xislandgirl · Post by **Xislandgirl** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:58 am

I remember Wendy's. It was terrible, I never understood how the food could be so bad, I mean it is all the same frozen stuff.

ATG · Post by **ATG** » Tue Feb 06, 2007 7:33 pm

How about a supermarket with decent prices? I mean, they have to ship everything to St. Thomas and Tortola too, and the prices at the supermarkets there are not as exhorbitant...IMHO
Also, how about a parking lot...I'm surprised some enterprising individual hasn't bought some lot somewhere in Cruz Bay and put up a garage or something (I know you are all probably cringing at the thought of a parking garage, but hey, something's got to give with the parking there, let's be realistic) -I know about that Slimmins lot near Wharfside, but I'm talkin about a lot you can park in yourself...

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