TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums St. Maarten - St. Martin 80 requests to occupy the new Orient Beach stands

In the Daily Herald today, there are 80 requests to occupy the new concession buildings. https://www.thedailyherald.sx/islands/53411-80-requests-to-occupy-orient-beach-s-rebuilt-concessions

80? Seems like a lot. Did they get confused with the space to park 80 cars?

I thought the same thing.

Seems pretty clear to me that a lot of people are interested in locating a business there.

No question but still, 80 is a lot! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />
I wonder how long it'll take to select the lucky ones.

Last line of article, "Hopefully we are setting an example for others to follow" is that a directive to others on Orient Beach or others in the Caribbean. Sounds like a shot at Pedro's to me.

One thing that was interesting to me was that they are just now apparently thinking that they need to do some improvement to the roads in the area.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Not too surprised by the number
8 resto's, 4 shops, 3 water sports and a craft market - 16 licences
plus no sub leasing and no other past mistakes??

So we know at least one resto not coming back, who knows who the no sub leasing comment rules out if any?
Wonder about the license for the craft market - 1 license to control what could be multiple vendors? - maybe that gets broken down to several licences?

I hope those that ran business's before get a legit chance re open

Regardless, colourful, lighting!!, maybe open evenings! - all good

J&B

"Persons, who occupied the original restaurants before their destruction and prior to Hurricane Gonzalo, have first priority to re-occupy the new units."

Good to hear.

Maybe its just me but I will miss the old huts.

Sounds fair and logical but this will be the case as long as they meet "strict economic and social criteria", according to another article.

Yes, one does wonder what that means..

80 is the number of parking spots that was listed from the very beginning. I suspect most people arrive on foot now but the parking could be important if a night time business ever materializes.

Could be, with the renovations, Pedro's is the last "shack" on the beach.

I have no idea who owns but to me it would make sense to remodel and pull some overflow or win back some business. They have the best piece of beach other than Club O or the places down the north side.
As far as night time. We started staying in the village and we would venture down. Had a great time at Bikini one night when they had a DJ. Could be an avenue for Pedro's if the new places catch on.

Pedro has no beach. Just rocks in front.

Who has the beach between the building and Club O?

I believe Pedro's is actually built on Club O property and there is a long standing lease agreement going back decades. The area between Pedros and the Perch is also Club O land.

No body that I know of. Its not Pedro's for sure.

We have sat in the green chairs and when you pay you get a couple of drinks from Pedro's and a ticket to use the restroom. Just figured it was all tied in together.

Pedros has new blue chairs and new umbrellas.Chairs look very comfortable now compared to the chairs at Club O. Looking very classy now.

Pretty much any chairs are more comfortable than Club O chairs! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Smile.gif" alt="" />

Ronalee's uncle/cousin own the company that supplies (at least they used to supply) the lounges at Club Orient. One of the times I was there I looked on one of the lounges to see their company name. I think they want durability versus comfort.

Well, not quite as bad as the hard plastic chairs at our local Y. That's why we bought chair pads; they worked well at the Y, we'll also us them at Club Orient. We've never used the Pedro's chairs, but might try them before we transfer to Club O.

I just don't care for plastic strap chairs in general..

I will sit on anything just to be on the beach near the Perch. Even sand.

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

I don't either but they sure beat the solid hard plastic ones.

Actually, I like the solid hard plastic ones better.. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" />

We would always put several towels on the Club O chairs - the ones they give you plus the beach towels we would pack.

You must have one well padded hard butt. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Mine is rather bonie with little or no meat and those solid plastic one are killers. After sitting in those my rear is numb.

What do chairs have to do with requests for occupying the buildings???

Absolutely nothing, but as is so often the case, in the course of dealing with the main topic we get side-tracked and it becomes a work in progress and evolves from response to response. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/handshake.gif" alt="" />

Chair pads, where can you get chair pads?

Ace Hardware has them.