USVI-On-Line

The St Thomas Source - onepaper - reported today that the IHOP in STT will close and quoted the owner as having monthly Wapa bills of $11K, Cooking gas of $3K and $13k rent as contributing factors. They also own Subways here so were not inexperienced or naive.
I realize that this is only one example but it may well speak to some of the problems that the STJ restaurants have too. They are not usually so outspoken about the reasons when they announce the closing there, maybe because they are still trying to sell the business.
The energy costs here have been skyrocketing and rents continue to rise especially in ST John.
The threads about cooking in the villa more are not a positivesign either as it is just one indication of the reaction to the downturn in the US economy.
If I had a kitchen like those villas generally have, I would be hard pressed to go out to a restaurant too, but I really enjoy cooking and entertaining.

I understand some wanting to cook in, but there are many of us who don't want to cook much on our vacation. But, the utility costs are outpacing the amount of visitors like myself and that isn't good. The increases in our utilities (especially natural gas on the mainland) that began years ago after deregulation has hurt many.

I hope Subways remain open on STT and STJ. There are reasonably priced lunch option that I always use when I'm there. Their fresh baked chocolate chip cookies are very good.

Subway's already gone.

http://www.on-stjohn.com/

That's a shame. I don't care that it was a chain. It was one of the least expensive places to get a fresh sandwich for lunch on St. John.