Demolition on Orient to begin June 22

As had been reported here before, the Daily Herald had a story on Saturday, confirming the demolition at Orient will begin on June 22. I personally think there will be a lot of good things come out of this, but we shall see!

Is the Kaoko beach and restaraunt affected? I also heard the restaraunt at Le Gallion is being demolished. Does anyone have info on this? We will be on island 8/22-8/29.

I didn't see it online. Do have a link to the story?

I think she's reading the full version.....could be mistaken.

Yup, full version, I have a pay subscription to the full version.

Kakao is not affected by this. LeGallion is a whole different situation. Not sure what is going on with that.

We arrive on island on July 1st, so we will be able to post pictures after 8 to 10 days into the demo phase

Thank you! We're all so interested in seeing the changes as they happen.

We arrive June 23 leaving July 5 always on Orient beach so will try and post some pictures.

Carol

I'm not sure that more good things will come of this than bad.

Two things to watch:

1. Will Cheryl, Leandre and Natalie (of Aloha), all woman run businesses, survive. Cheryl predates all others and Aloha is a direct follow on of Koko and Marina (now of Palm Beach). Cheryl, Leandre and Natalie all have great followings. (So they should certainly survive.) Or will the newer men owned businesses with good connections survive.

Or will they almost all fall under the wheels of new owners with better connections? (And more money.)

2. What freedom will the new owners have to personalize their places? Aruba is lovely, but Aruba on St Martin? Please, no.


We have been coming to St. Martin for more than 20 years and I don't really have huge confidence in the government of either the French or Dutch side in regard to making decisions. (Uhh, come to think off it, I could probably say the same for the US.)

Oh well.

I will absolutely hate, hate, hate it if I never eat at Cheryl's again.

Sigh............

leandra has been there since 1977 and I will gurantee you she plans on being back. in the meantime please support her at mom`s place in the French quarter this is her other place.for meals and also pizza

when demolition starts will walking the length of the beach be possible?

Are you referring to nude walks in the AM, or just walking the beach trying to get past the construction?

Sad. Last lunch at Orange Fever until post construction

when we were there last week the vendors were told to clear out everything by Sunday the 14th, demo (bulldozer) was to begin Monday the 15th (today).. as we were walking back from lunch on Saturday afternoon most of the vendors were all breaking down their shacks and a lot of them were already closed ie Cheryl, sexy fruit

walks in general without having to avoid construction

I still feel that after 20 trips, we are still newbes, and I can't wrap my head around this bulldozing thing!! Cheryl and Andy were the FIRST friends we made. Now we're family. I was at Andy's funeral and took care of Inga too!!! The old fifties music, the beat up license plates the wooden park benches. To be replaced with what??? plastic Mickie dee's tables???? I pray for all those little vendors and there cute boutique shops/eateries!!!

I'm thinking the major activity will be more away from the beach itself, so we should be able to still access the beach in that area for swimming, walking, and sightseeing. Food and drinks won't be available closeby (The Perch or something the other end maybe).

Andy's funeral? When did he pass away?

I sure hope the planners have enough sense to keep in mind what has made this strip of paradise so appealing... The things you talk about....

Last August.

I am so sorry to hear that Andy passed. I was not on the island last year.

Colour, your description of what you fear could happen is also what worries me. Let's cross our fingers and hope that some of the old "funkiness" will somehow be retained.

I'm not sure I have an opinion one way or the other about the new construction, as like everyone, we'll just have to wait and see. What was difficult for me was seeing the reactions of everyone - lots of tears and sadness as the closings began. I didn't speak with anyone who wasn't hoping to come back, unfortunately with the lack of information at this point, no one really knows what the outcome will be ultimately. They are a resilient, smart group for sure and am just hoping that everything works out for these wonderful folks.

Pedro's will still be open

Agree!

When I was last there at the end of March there was very little beach and a lot of crowding. I do like the whole idea a lot. There is a lot I liked about the way it was... but for me that was before ANY building, in 1979!

Jeff,

Most of us who had the distinct privilege of knowing the island 'back in the day' still feel that way - we first visited OB in 1973 - but most of the people here have never had that experience and know not what they're missing - think Happy Bay before it became so popular. Personally, I wish it had stayed in it's natural 'au naturelle' state and it hadn't become such a tourist draw at all, but that's just not realistic, IMHO!

We have been visiting the island since 1979, Dawn Beach was our favorite place to be.

gracie,

I always thought Dawn Beach, with it's long driveway down, was one of the prettiest and most scenic areas of the island back in the day. Today? Well, I won't go there!! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Pat,

I agree, it was so beautiful. I still visit there, but it is not the same.

Ted,

We met you on the beach and then followed you to many restaurants <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> We are West of Boston so almost neighbors! Bob and Maureen

I think the question of personalization is the key. In the beginning, Kon Tiki, Kakao Coco and Bikini were all identical designs (I know there were 3 or 4, forgive me if I remembered incorrectly) but you would never had known that latter on. If this ends up being a strip mall with velcro signs then it is going to be an eye sore.

...actually I think it was FIVE stars of Orient. Don't know if they were identical to begin with or not.

Depending on how things go tomorrow, we will go by there and take some pictures, before it goes away altogether.

Fifth is Waikiki - they may have been laid out the same - they never felt identical from the very first I saw them.

We are here at Club O and the others have said that this beach is more crowded (a lot of walkers), but it is entertaining seeing them come down to this end. Just imagine getting dropped off at Pedros and most of the activity is south rather than north.

Carol, some pictures would be great! It's something I want to see, but also don't want to see! By the time we get back next April, it will be so very different.

Took several pictures, have to get them uploaded.

Went back to the post I first saw and supposedly Luftman built them and leased to different operators. You all remember the Bikini saga... By virtue of the different operators they were never "identical".

Well, we went over there today and basically nothing happening, I guess because of the rain..

We went by today and some locals were doing something - maybe scavenging. It is kinda depressing looking at those places and in the back where some locals sold their wares. We went by Bikini and it was fixed up quite nice. It seems that all of the ones past where the construction is to happen are already of higher quality. I don't feel either way about what they do or don't do, but hope it works out for the best of the people of St. Martin. We haven't patronized any of the places that still exist, but have nothing against it except that we stay on the south end of the beach for the most part. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Blush.gif" alt="" /> We will go up there on a future trip and decide if we want to stop.

The big backhoe is there today and has knocked down all the buildings where the sales booths were located. All the restaurants are hollow and ready to go if they have already been deconstructed.

gracie105, Sadly Andy Died September 13,2013. Funeral was in NJ. Here is the obituary: http://www.aloiafuneral.com/book-of-memories/1670017/Susko-Jr-Andrew-J/obituary.php We'll be down Fabila and I in October. I hear from Cheryl. She is "OK" with the change. But we all know we will miss the oldies music and Andy barking out great memories!!!

Larry or anyone else on island--would appreciate some pictures, if anyone can post them. They didn't appear to be doing anything on Monday.

I saw some pics of the demo on an SXM facebook group that I belong to (not sure if it's a "competitor" or if there are rules about promoting other sites??). From the looks of it - they are pretty close to clearing everything out. Selfishly, I am glad the demo wasn't going on during our visit. It would have bummed me out to walk past there everyday from our condo in the village to the beach @ club O.

Pictures from the other day have been posted here also, as I posted them.

Sorry, Carol - I thought you had asked for pics. I was just commenting that I saw some new, additional pics taken yesterday that showed more progress on the demo.

OK, sorry. I took pics on Monday, wasn't sure when you were talking about the pictures being taken.

We'll be there next Wednesday, and will update then

OK, I expect they will start construction by then, as the demolition certainly wouldn't take long, probably already done.

I'll be there tomorrow <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> and will post pics if I can figure out the process <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

If you get really confused, you can email the pics to me.