WHEN ARE THE MALLS COMING?

Here at Dress Better on the Weekend (DBOW), we aim to keep you informed of all things related to style and fashion in the Virgin Islands and the broader Caribbean.

Keeping in line with this mission, we recently received some brief (but important) updates from top players in retail development in the USVI.

In a recent telephone interview with one local developer who currently has a mega mall under construction on St. Croix, DBOW was informed that while the facility is still expected to open, residents will have to wait a bit longer—closer to the end of 2025—for a possible opening, the businessman says.

Furthermore, DBOW can confirm that the Sunshine Mall, which was renamed to The Mall of Saint Croix, likely won’t be opening anytime in the near (or distant) future due to a host of complex legal matters winding their way through the courts, this according to family members of the owners.

The Mall of Saint Croix, located in the Estate Cane neighborhood of Frederiksted, will remain closed for the foreseeable future.

And finally, stay with me, that “mall” everyone thinks is a mall being constructed at the corner of Strawberry, isn’t a mall at all. While it will be a place where residents can shop, it won’t do much in the way of retail therapy many locals crave, owners recently confirmed to DBOW.

Breathe.

For those of us that had been looking forward to the possibility of fresh, new fashion retailers coming to the island, this isn’t the news we want to hear. To be clear, having an interest in attracting new retail business to St. Croix doesn’t take anything away from the local shops we know and love and support; however, there’s something that just feels good about having options.

With the recent closure of the last remaining Kmart store on St. Croix, the island no longer has a big box department store where residents can do general shopping for household goods and supplies, personal effects and other necessities. Home Depot, and the slew of local dollar stores don’t always fit the bill.

Of course, there’s online shopping, but between delivery lead times and shipping costs. some residents prefer to shop local.

DBOW will keep an eye on this developing story and will bring you the latest on the (hopeful) revival of St. Croix’s retail fashion scene.