One great tip we received was to hit the largest grocery store in town, Starfish Market. The prices are high so be prepared for sticker shock but the cost savings of making your own breakfast or having a midnight snack conveniently available in your room will overshadow any hesitation.
When you first arrive in St. John, go to this market for your staples, such as cereal for the kids and beer for you. Starfish Market is located in The Marketplace shopping center, up on a hill across from…the waste treatment plant of all things. Take Route 104, either from the Westin or from downtown. Phone is (340) 779-4949.
Starfish Market has a terrific deli counter where fresh salads and sandwiches are prepared daily. My husband, up to this trip, had an aversion to tofu. Not sure how he was going to survive, married into an Asian family, I was determined to prove to him that tofu was not the foul sustenance of those with taste bud failure. We approached the deli counter where a sales clerk offered us a sample of tofu salad. After making a face, my husband finally relented to my constant barrage of, “Just try it! It’s just like cottage cheese and you love cottage cheese!” Long story short, my husband now asks for tofu at family dinners.
For picnic supplies, the Starfish Market will have everything you need for a day out. You should find most of the comforts of home there. If you have the time, check out the classified ads hanging in the entrance. It’s interesting to see how life on the island might differ or be similar to life at home.
For a market where more locals shop, try the Dolphin Gourment Market. Smaller than Starfish, the prices are cheaper on some items, more expensive on others. Dolphin Market will be quieter than Starfish.
Located at 18-25 Boulon Center, along Route 10, Dolphin Market is the first establishment as you leave town on the left, across from the Texaco station.
The last market we found was simply called The Simple Feast. This small grocery is closest to the Westin, although not within walking distance, in the Palm Plaza. The traffic along Route 104 does not lend to casual strolls on a road without sidewalks. Don’t risk it. Due to its location, Simple Feast charges higher prices than the other two markets, knowing that the tourists at the Westin will pay premium when they are not aware of the other choices on the island. They carry prepared sandwiches and salads, as well as bottled sauces, and other goods. You can find specialty items, rather than basic groceries.