May 22, 2009 — Two St. Thomas businesses got a thumbs up from Dockwalk, a website written by luxury yacht crews for their peers in an article entitled "Top 6 Marinas for Provisioning."
Yacht Haven Grande marina and Fruit Bowl both got top billing in the story by writer Victoria Allman, a charter yacht chef who visits St. Thomas regularly.
"She's been in and out of the area for 10 years," Dockwalk Managing Editor Lauren Beck said from her Fort Lauderdale office.
The article notes that "it's only a short walk up the hill to one of the best vegetable shops in the Virgin Islands. The Fruit Bowl in St. Thomas stocks the freshest vegetables south of Miami. The store has just expanded, resulting in triple the space for seafood, meat, cheese and organics. David and James will order specifically for you and deliver right to the marina, then Yacht Haven Grandes service-oriented dock crew will drive your order to the boat in their golf carts and help you unload. It doesnt get any easier or friendlier in the islands."
Fruit Bowl Manager James Clark was delighted at the mention.
"It's a real coup for the Virgin Islands," he said.
While Yacht Haven Grande has been open several years, Clark said that Fruit Bowl recently expanded its store so it can stock seafood, meats, cheese, and yogurt along with fresh fruits and vegetables.
No one returned phone calls made to Yacht Haven Grande requesting comment.
The other marinas mentioned include Old Port Cannes in France, Marina Taina in Tahiti, Burnham Harbor in Chicago, Port Vell in Barcelona, and Marina Oceanus on Australia's Gold Coast.
Dockwalk's website has been up for about a year, Beck said. Dockwalk also has a print version that's been around since 1996, but the article that mentions Yacht Haven Grande and The Fruit Bowl only appears on the website.
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