TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Christmas Day Grocery Store hours

We will be arriving in St Maarten on Christmas day with AA from Miami @ 3.00 PM. Does anyone know if the grocery stores would be open or are the closed for Christmas and Boxing Day.

TIA

We were on SXM on Christmas Day last year, and I'm pretty sure all the regular grocery stores were closed on Christmas Day. We were at Grand Marche fairly late on Christmas Eve, and it was PACKED. I think they were supposed to close at 6 PM on Christmas Eve, but I recall hearing afterward that they were actually open later than that last year, as the store was full of people. I don't recall Boxing Day, but I think they were open on Boxing Day. Suggest you contact Jeannie at Shop N Drop and have her deliver first night supplies, or bring them with you.

Here are the official Public Holidays on the Dutch side. It is an offense to remain open on such days and the Police do patrol to check:

Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2015
Boxing Day Saturday, December 26, 2015
New Years Day Friday, January 01, 2016

Well, yeah, but I thought those holidays did not apply to grocery stores??

Theoretically they apply to all businesses. SXM is very slack but as far as the few official holidays they can be very tough. I have seen Police closing down a supermarket on St Martin Day.

Isn't there some sort of unless? As in 'unless' they are attached to a resort? That may well be one of those rules/laws that has gone by the wayside but once upon a time, that was the case..... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Yes the "unless" refers to resort operations.

There's an Asian store near Summit Hotel. Perhaps they won't celebrate Christmas ' and will open. I'm sure resorts with restaurants will be open. Bring breakfast items then get food to go for just Christmas Day and the next day, Boxing Day.

Once, in Itay for Christmas our hotel served only breakfast so Christmas eve we stopped at a deli and bought goodies for an antipasto. That and leftovers from our dine out Christmas carried us through Boxing Day.

Which bring me to say: always remember to pack a small foldable cooler or at least a cooler lunch bag when traveling it may come in handle if for only taking cheese to take to the beach to have with a freshly baked baguette.

Saw an ad for Super U in the Daily Herald today. Closed at 8 PM Christmas Eve, closed all day on Christmas, open 8 am to 8 pm on Boxing Day.

BTW, happy birthday, Trinigirl!!

We always arrive on Christmas day and we've always stopped a the same grocery store on the French on the way to Orient. So sorry I don't recall the name but your driver may know, that is if your not renting a car. I think it is on the main road if you take the west side of island passing through marigot and grand case.

I think that was Super Marche Match. It's now Super U ---see Carol's post (above) about hours open.

I wasn't at all sure which grocery store she was talking about. It hasn't been Match for several years and was just closed for a couple of years. Possibly she was talking about what used to be US Market and now is called Simply, I think????

Thanks all we will pick up some Cuban sandwiches at La Carreta in the Miami airport and figure out dinner , last year we flew in on Boxing day and were able to get supplies when we landed.

Thanks Carol for the birthday wishes, December is a big month for our family as our son is the 2nd, I am the 16th , my husband the 25th and our anniversary is the 12.

Yes, on Boxing Day you will be able to shop at Super U, at the very least, and if you haven't been there before, you are in for a treat!!

As far as the Christmas birthdays, your husband got a little cheated there. My mother in law's birthday is the 24th, so she got kind of cheated too.

All businesses on the Dutch side are obligated to close on Christmas Day 25th. On 26th Dec and 1st Jan - even though these are public holidays, they may open if they wish, as long as they pay their staff applicable overtime.

what about restaurants/bars?...will most be open, or will many be closed? <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />