TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Quick question

Thank you in advance. Just wanted to know if the supermarket “Grand Marche” is functioning? I heard it might be under a new name.
Thank you,
carib cheers,
doctorj

Grand Marche is technically no more. The store that is by Mark's is now called Carrefour.

Thank you,
Should I assume that the only change is the name?
carib cheers,
doctorj
We will send along updates . We land on the 18th.

It now has a more extensive selection of French brands.

Doc... will be waiting for your report... we're heading down on 6/17.

Thanks SXMScubaman!
PnP,
Could use some beach ball contestants!
carib cheers,
doctorj

Doc - our beach ball was in our bin.... :-) no telling where that is now.
We'd love to - have the whole family with us on this trip.

Have fun!!!

doctor--I haven't been there since Irma yet, but they did a major renovation, so in addition to now carrying more French brands, they are all spruced up! Looking forward to seeing it soon myself!

Carol,
I will update once we get there. We cannot wait. Will try to fight sand gravity and put out a daily contribution via trip report.
PnP
I lost enough equipment to build a cabana, beads beach balls, and signage, but we will restock.(had too much there/no big deal) We actually built a small shade cabana after Hurricane Omar to shade the ladies.
I am just so happy to be able to go back and support the island we love.
Now is the time to help our friends on the Island!
carib cheers all,
doctorj

Doc - Absolutely!!!

Very much looking forward to seeing 'on the spot' reports! Will be very much interested in hearing status reports on the (hopefully) rebuilding of the big restaurants on Orient, which according to previous reports, were SUPPOSED to start in February. Also looking forward to hearing an update on LaPlaya, which is supposed to be close to opening..

Carol,
I will do my best to update.
carib cheers,
doctorj

thanks much!

That Carrefour is a big store with lots of selection & big liquor section with varying prices. I quite enjoyed it but parking spaces were hard to find.

I don't understand why parking has become such an issue there since the hurricane, but several people have reported that. While we sometimes have had to search a bit, we've always been able to find parking there before.

Has anyone heard anything about the other Carrefour location in Cole Bay? Do they plan on rebuilding?

Dot and I did not even try to find a parking spot the other day since there was a line to get into the lot and many cars setting with their drivers in the aisles while others were shopping.

I don't get it. I hope by next month, the lines will be down..

Has Mark's reopened in that parking lot?

Yes, Marks has been open for some time.

Essentially, there is one fewer grocery stores, as Carrefour Cole Bay was destroyed. When we were on the island in February and March, shopping in Philipsburg on Saturdays was a madhouse because of the volume of people shopping at that store. Photos of the remodeled store are here LINK.

Exactly as Harry says. There are less options for groceries now. Been that way since Irma.

Harry--makes sense, just I thought that there were also a whole lot less people on island. I guess most tourists just don't spend that much at the grocery. Thanks for the link to the photos. It looks wonderful!! We arrive on a Friday. Elaine--should we just head to Super U? I would hate to head all the way over the hill to Carrefour and not be able to find a place to park. We normally spend about $200 on our first trip to the grocery, the day we arrive, as we want to go ahead and get most of our essentials that first day and then just pick up small stuff later. I have no interest in Market Garden, as I have always thought their stuff was overpriced. How well stocked are the Carrefour Express locations?

Not sure how to answer that. I go to Carrefour Bush Rd for basics. Super U we get our meat, produce and a couple other things. Try to get most of our produce from the farm when we can, The Carrefour Express just has a smaller selection, we shop the Porto Cupecoy when running out for milk or that ONE thing you need for a recipe!

I get my chicken legs at Market Garden. About the only thing cheap in the place.

Yeah, Carrefour Bush Road is where we have always shopped for our basics also. When do you normally go to Carrefour Bush Road, that you can get in or you just go and take your chances?

We try to go when we THINK it won't be busy. If I tell you when, I'll have to kill ya! LOL

I got ya!

The new Carrefour is great, drop about 3K there in Jan.- March, however trying to figure out the content of French labeled goods that we
wanted to try was a challenge, and you need to watch the fresh dates on the milk.. Of course there were plenty of the "good old American" items
that we are used buying back home.

So, what times of day and days of the week did you shop there, that you were able to get a parking spot??

We usually went there around noon during the week, don't recall ever having to wait more than a minute for a spot to open up

OK, thanks!

Good one Carol!

What about the little grocery stores like the one near Atlantico?
We find that some of the prices on soda and water are much better
than Garden Market which is usually our first stop.

We only grab the essentials -- milk, cereal, butter, bread, eggs, coffee etc., because
they have a good selection, and it's convenient, but it is so darn cold in there that we don't stay long.