Margarita's
Cruz Bay has a new Mexican cafe and cantina located where the Garden of Luscious Licks used to be. Margarita's, the creation of Phil Hoffman and Greg Beer, seats 40 to 50 customers and has been in business for five weeks.
"What I like about being small is I can still do special orders," Hoffman said.
Diners can choose from quesadillas, tacos, enchiladas, burritos and chalupas made with homemade seasoned dough. Beer offers a visitor a sample of filling for the popular grouper taco with jalapeño cream. For dessert on the dinner menu there's Mexican apple pie — fruit, spices and sweetening rolled in a tortilla and fried crisp.
In the days to come, Margarita's will add an afternoon taco bar featuring fresh fried taco shells and seven different fillings.
Of course, there are margaritas. Hoffman said he scoured the restaurant trade shows stateside to come up with four frozen concoctions that swirl colorfully in the bar dispensers. A passing waitress says mango margaritas are a favorite, but customers can also choose among strawberry, classic lime, and a "green iguana" made with orange juice and blue curaçao, all served in cobalt blue cocktail glasses.
With pepper and cactus lights strung across the bar and party favors for the kids, Margarita's offers an atmosphere of fun to go along with the owners' creative Mexican fare.
Functional Furnishings
Walking or driving, those traveling uphill from the Cruz Bay Bulkhead can hardly help noticing the mahogany four-poster bed in the window at Functional Furnishings. Store owner Claudia Hartshorn says she has sold three of the pricey pieces of furniture to walk-in customers alone.
"I've sold three king-sized beds in the past two weeks," she said on a recent day. "Being on the street is a definite advantage, because people go by every day, and I put out new stuff every day."
Hartshorn said she opened the showcase shop in November to display her original hand-painted furniture. Since then, she has added several services that are making life on St. John more attractive and convenient.
Customers can browse and order from catalogs and have the shipping arranged through the store. "I have a good, reliable freight forwarder that will get it here for you in a week," she pledged.
Those wanting to create a new room decor can peruse the fabric samples in the shop. Hartshorn offers design consulting services, too, and will visit a client's home and make recommendations for such things as complementary furniture upholstery or slip covers, curtains and accents.
Editor's note: Open for Business will report regularly on new enterprises on St. John. If you have or know of one, let St. John Source know and we'll spread the news to the rest of the world. Call or fax to 776-4812 or e-mail to source@viaccess.net.
