TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Grocery stores

Can anyone recommend a grocery store. We are staying on Orient and will be traveling by cab during our stay so we would like to shop on our way to the resort from the airport. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

Super U in Marigot is great.

Depending on your route to your rental:

If you travel via Marigot there's a market in the Howell Center (right side of main road on your way) SUPER U. Ample parking, need a US quarter to get a shopping cart. Need to have your own bags.

Further on this route after Grand Case near Cul de Sac in Hope Estate (right side) is another store. (can't remember name) I believe you'll still need your own bags.

Route from airport thru Simpson Bay is Grand Marche . Cab driver will know where any of these store are. There's a waiting charge for the cab.

I'm sure others here may have other suggestions of smaller stores.

The one at hope estates is simply (or imply when the signs lit, lol). Super U is better in my opinion.

Coming from the airport, going to Orient, my best suggestions would be in either order, either
Carrefour--Used to be Cole Bay Grand Marche, now called Carrefour. Your taxi driver will know exactly where it is, but for your information, it's over the causeway, make a right, and it's very close on the right hand side. Coming out, make a left and head toward the french side through Marigot. Good selection and prices, great selection of french products

OR

Super U--In Marigot, where Match used to be, years ago. Great prices and selection. On the French side, but they accept Dollars at one to one. Great selection of wines at cheap prices. Beautiful produce and meats, and a bakery right beside the store.

Do NOT go to Simply in Hope Estate. There have been several recent reports of bare shelves, dirty store, etc., there.

Another option, for a much smaller store, but with a decent selection of items, is Petit Casino, in Orient Village. It's a very well stocked store. Prices higher than Super U or Carrefour, but you can walk there and I think that they will take you back 'home' within the immediate Orient area, with your groceries.

RonDon--you don't technically have to pay to use the shopping carts at Super U. (I actually thought it was a french coin you needed??) Anyway, the 'hand' baskets are very large and they have a handle that extends so that you can sit them on the ground and roll them. Unless you are getting a LOT! of groceries, two of those carts should work fine.

You can get a plastic slug from service desk to get you cart.Free!We keep one in the rental car and my wife has spare in purse

Carol & tbaybob

Thanks for that info. I knew about the carry baskets (I remember your cute post on how you discovered the handle extends) but I tend to over shop on initial visit to a new store.

I also remember a post about package directions being in French, not that I buy much, maybe a rice package or such.

Good, also, to know about the slug for the cart.

PS forgot to add I thought I had read a post here saying those hand carts can not be taken from the store to your car while carriages can.

Thanks for the input everyone. 24 days and counting ! With this morning's temp at -11 wheels up can't get here fast enough.

I didn't remember that, but Eric said that is true, that you have to leave the rolly carts in the store. The first time we bought bags, and the second time we took our own bags.

Is the grocery store going into Grand case (middle road by police station) still there and is the little gourmet shop just past the Pharmacy in Grand Case still there. Also what about the shop at Club Orient . Thanks arriving Tuesday <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

Not sure which store you're talking about in Grand Case, but I think you are talking about the one that closed a couple of years ago, almost across from Repaire du Pirate? If so, that one is closed. With regard to the Club O grocery, the one at Petit Casino in the Village is MUCH better stocked and better prices. And Bruno from Petit Casino also does free delivery in the Orient area. Check out their webpage on the TTOL sponsors link.

Carol Thank you As you can tell it has been a few years since we were last there . Do you have any updates on Marcel and Repaire du Pirate used to be one of our favorites in Grand Case .

If there are specific brand items you want, maybe if you list a few, we can direct you. For instance, only one store--closest to CO from Philipsburg coming up the hill(Fresh Market?)--carries Pepsi products(and Mountain Dew), and our favorite champagne Michelle, and our sun lotion, and yogurt brand. Not all stores carry the usual items or are often out. And the little grocery in O Village near Yellow Submarine is very clean, well stocked, and floor-to-ceiling with lots if you are not looking for specific brands. Very pleased with it. And check expiration dates wherever you go.

Sorry, I don't have any update regarding Repaire du Pirate. I assume, without knowing, that he is still open.

Club O grocery is a convenience store at best. Limited selection and very high prices.

Can anyone tell us whether any grocery stores are open on Sundays. Specifically the Petit Casino at Orient Plaza. Thanks.

Yes, they are open on Sunday in Orient. Some stores have limited hours and others still open late like Maho Market in Maho and Market Garden in Simpson Bay.

Yes, 9-8

http://www.petitcasinosxm.com

As Beachkitten said, Petit Casino is definitely open and is very well stocked.

I can't remember exactly now, but I think Grand Marche and Carrefour are now open later on Sundays? And Super U is open in the morning, closed from like 3 to 6 PM and then reopens for 3 hours or so in the evening. So there are lots of choices on Sunday now.

Super U hrs below
Sunday open 9 to 1 and then 4 to 7

HORAIRES D’OUVERTURE

Lundi : 08h00 à 19h30
Mardi : 08h00 à 19h30
Mercredi : 08h00 à 19h30
Jeudi : 08h00 à 19h30
Vendredi : 08h00 à 19h30
Samedi : 08h00 à 19h30
Dimanche : 09h00 à 13h00 – 16h00 à 19h00

J&B

OK, thanks.

We like Le Grand Marche.

Grand Marche is open longer hours on Sunday now

Right, they are now open 9 to 6 on Sundays, at GM, Carrefour and Gourmet GM.

Totally agree with Carol, DO NOT GO TO SIMPLY in HOPE Estate, awful customer service and poor selection!

Do you mind elaborating on the awful service and poor selection? I've always found the store meets most of our needs, and it's especially convenient to GCBC. I don't relish having to go to Marigot, or beyond for our routine needs.

There have been many reports regarding empty shelves, dirty store, etc., in the past few months. It appears that Simply is being pushed out of business by Super U. Super U is really the nicest store on the island, especially if you understand some french, and they seem to have the best prices on the island. For just a few quick item, you should check out Petit Casino in Orient Village.

We are one of the posters who have commented on Simply. Last winter we went to Simply several times, with no issues -another story this yr - at night the "S" is not lit, our joke was it meant no stock.

No eggs on two occasions, the freezer cabinets - half have no stock, no ham, once the wine sold, shelves not restocked. We gave up going to Simply and either went to Petit Casino or Super U. We did try the Leader Price store just east of Simply. Pricing is Euro's, sort of a small warehouse type store, the produce looked OK, not a bad store

J&B

I have heard that Simply is changing to the Carrefour brand, so stock is limited.

This makes sense and will not be in competition with the French products at Super U.

We are mad for the Monop' in Bellevue. We call it "disco market". It is immaculate, and all the produce is wonderful, plus there is a good selection of local fruits and veggies--- great avocados.

There is one in Marigot too, but I have never shopped there.

Do any of the stores have online circulars so you can check prices?

TTOL sponsors Shop N Drop AND Petit Casino provide food delivery and you can get their prices online on their websites. Shop N Drop is a delivery service only, as they do not have a store. Petit Casino has delivery and a store in Orient Village also. I believe that the prices on the Petit Casino website are the same as in the store. I am not aware of whether you can find prices online for Super U or Grand Marche or Carrefour.