TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin Chez Leandra’s told to tear down by Monday

It’s been reported that the Collective gave Chez Leandra’s permission to set up a temporary stand. They set up there place and it looked pretty good, they just started serving food, then today they have been ordered to tear it down by Monday. I can’t understand why they would do this?

No idea, but to assume that the Collective gave them permission to do what they did, might not be correct. Just sayin', if so, why haven't all the others reopened??

I have no idea what is accurate and what is not but to me, this is the problem with people/businesses throwing up a shack and conducting business. If it is in violation of codes or law, this is what will eventually happen. While I am all for the free enterprise system, I do assume there are laws, regulations and building codes one would have to follow.

Yes there are rules and regulations but they gave them temporary permission until they were ready to rebuild, Chez L.spent all that money and just started serving Monday, then are told to tear it down on Thursday, seems unfair. Orient beach needs them right now to get the tourist to come back, as it stands now there’s only the Perch, so all the cruisers are flocking there causing issues. Sun Clubber was also getting ready to set up a temporary beach bar. as I said this was only supposed to be a temporary set up to get them threw until they were allowed to rebuild, by doing this it not only hurts the beach bars it hurts the whole area, the car and condo rentals the restaurants and stores in Village and on and on, the beach bars help draw in many tourist.

I doubt if either of us know the entire story and while it does appear to be "unfair", temporary is temporary and unless a definitive date was agreed upon, this is what happens.

If the "temporary" shacks/huts are allowed to continue then that is what you will have up and down the entire beach. I am not saying it is right or wrong either way but the business owners and French government need to come to terms with what they can live with an go from there.

I guess you can have Orient Beach like it was 20+ years ago, like it was 5 years ago or like it was last year.

Jasperben--again, your original post said 'it's been reported..." Reported by whom? Just because it's on the internet, doesn't mean it's so. Why would Chez Leandra be given permission to reopen and not anyone else?? That said, I absolutely agree, one million percent, that the French side authorities need to get off their penguin you-know-whats and allow places to reopen along the beach. They are hurting everyone by their position.

Correct on all accounts Carol.

One only has to go back to when Irma first devastated the island. There were all kinds of erroneous reports regarding places being "gone" when in fact they were not all factual. Damaged, damaged beyond repair and totally "gone" are vastly different things.

Curious, what issues?

I'm curious also....what issues?
Why shouldn't Orient be the way it was years ago. Much better than the way it was before Irma.
Looks so beautiful now. Natural.

I think some people have complained about people taking pictures, as from my understanding, there is no security now.

People need to realize, MANY "cruisers" had their first ever visit to SXM this way and then they decided to return. That is how I first went there 27 years ago and I have made 60+ visits with 6 of them being via a cruise ship.. This attitude that "cruisers" are a problem is uncalled for in many cases. "Cruisers" have as much right to Orient or any other beach on the island as any other tourist does.

I have seen people who were not "cruisers" visiting Orient Beach who created "issues" also.

It seems odd that the temporary permission was for only 3 days. These people lost their source of income and are trying to make do until those who are in power get their bleep together. It also gave the visitors more options.

As far as the "issue": I'm not there, but from what I've read from those who are.
Club O asked some au naturel people to move down. This would help "protect" them from the gawkers & picture takers, as there isn't the security necessary to do that. We have spent many days on the Club Orient beach - both as visitors and guests - and have always been welcoming to most cruisers (the non-gawkers). The club explained their position on their FB page, and further stated that their entire beach is c/o.

Oh yeah - Go Eagles.

It has only been "reported" they had this permission, I have not seen it substantiated by a reliable source yet. I have no idea who "reported" this and if it is factual or not. Not everything that is "reported" is 100% factual. Carol addressed this earlier in the thread.

That's how we got hooked on St Maarten. 6 cruise visits and then stayed at Belair for 10 days and bought timeshare at Flamingo that same trip. Been going back every year since for 19 years for 4 weeks. Only three this time since our Flamingo home is closed and rented a Villa instead.

Yes Carol the lack of security is one of the major issues, I believe there’s only one person watching over this area so it’s hard to keep people from taken pictures. I don’t mind the cruisers that is how we discovered Club O as well but it doesn’t take to much common sense not to take pictures of naked people. Also with the Perch being the only place open most of the people are heading there, no fault of the cruise people. Thinking Chez L and Sun Clubber opening soon was one reason we made reservations for the beginning of April., I’m still happy we’re going back anyway. My source of info is from person on a Orient Village Facebook group who ate there Thursday and talked to the owner. Hopefully they can negotiate an agreement to keep them open.

I do hope it gets resolved soon, so that ALL the places that were in that area can reopen (if they want to).

Thinking Chez Leandra was going to be open made us more comfortable to keep our commitment to return to St Martin for 6 weeks. It is going to be great disappointed if it is not open.

Chez Leandra was told they could rebuild on there existing space, apparently one of the other beach bars started to rebuild and moved sand and boulders so the collective told them all to vacate and they where coming in to clean up the area Monday. As of this past Sunday Chez Leandra was going to wait and see what happened while 2 other bars ( Sun Beach and Good Time Charlies) were going to keep building regardless of what they were told. They were fine with closing down after high season but want the opportunity to make a few dollars while they can

I was wondering the status of Chez Leandra. IMHO the 40' shipping container was the straw that broke the camel's back. Stay on your slab with a makeshift lolo was the agreement.

Any update on this? I sure hope they are open when I get there in July...a grilled fish sandwich from Chez Leandra may be my favorite meal on the island!

Word from Orient today (wed 1/31) is that Chez Leandras was still open for business today.

Zelman says that's what the French govt said but they are not moving.