TravelTalkOnline Forums Travel and Vacation Forums British Virgin Islands "Gene's"..CLOSED.

This is truly a heartbreaker for all of us who have loved "Gene's" at Ke Villas in Carrot Bay since Gene and hubby Robin opened it..after putting everything they had into the place. The food was exceptional and these two brought in folks to pack the place every night. Sadly success seems to have done them in. I cant go into details but the landlord seems to have tried to renogiate their lease.....now it's locked up with lawyers and everyone loses..but most of all Gene and Robin who worked so very hard to make this place succeed. We will follow these two to wherever they end up..needless to say dozens of us will probably never visit whatever ends up at Ke Villas...

Yet another case of "build it and they will come, and take it". Can't count the number of times I've seen good people pour everything into a business in the BVI only to get the shaft.

That is so sad, Anne and I are glad we were able to enjoy three meals at Gene's with you and Candace while we were there. It was a great atmosphere and the food was exceptional.
We feel bad for Gene and Robin.
Dave

I can't tell you how disappointed I am. Gene and Robin did not deserve this at all. I can only state that I will most certainly do all I can to help them should they be able to get themselves re-established elsewhere.

Wonderful people, great food ... very bad luck with landlords. This sort of thing happens all too frequently and it's a crying shame. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/thumbsdown.gif" alt="" />

We went down there last evening and saw they were closed, and then ran into Gene and Robin and heard the story. Our hearts go out for them.

Been there, done that (or rather had it done to me). Nailed it, Hillside.

Just wrong!.Enjoyed them so much. We will be waiting to here where they end up.

yeah, and the "local" figures it is a money maker. Greedy guts are everywhere. Sad as it was a great spot.

Devastatingly sad news for Gene, who has worked so hard to deliver great food, excellent service and happiness wherever she has worked in the BVI, even more so since she acquired her own business. Sad, too, for all her customers and friends...we WILL follow where she goes.

Having met the landlord on several occasions, we believed him to be an honest, upstanding gentleman with integrity and a good *christian* spirit. How wrong can you be? What goes around, comes around...

The landlord is going to lose out here, he doesn't realize the commitment and hours it takes the run a successful restaurant all he sees is $$$. Hopefully they will win through and empty his pockets for lose of earnings.

Many folks here are supporting Gene and Robin..they are loved for their great food, service and character..this place was huge with those of us who live on the north shore..most of whom I'm sure will not spend their hard earned $$$ at anything run there without them..so sad too when you read Trip Advisor..how many folks say Gene's place made staying at Ke Villas so special..take that away and the landlord has already shot himself in the foot..and why would anyone want to trust him after this anyway???

There is a huge groundswell of support for Gene and Robin who provided us with such great food and times at their bar and grille at Ke Villas. Many are "not happy" ..being kind ..by the treatment they got from the owner of the property who used "Gene's Place" as a big promotional tool for his apartments( read Trip Advisor). Everyone will suffer here..but we will do whatever we can to get Gene and Robin up and running again..we will also do all we can to remind certain people not to treat others this way..

An ex-pat neighbor of Manpot posted on the BVI Community Board facebook thread (originated by "Julie Alfoldi") that tells a rather different story. As someone said, there are two sides to every story.

I agree, there are always different sides to every story.

I have known Gerry and Lorilee Cooper for about 18 years. They are both very kind, intelligent people who worked very hard to make their own dreams come true when they built Ke Villas. They are not the ogres some may believe. They just aren't.

Gene and Robin are the salt of the Earth. They put their heart and soul into Gene's restaurant as well as their life savings. When I saw that Gene, Robin and the Coopers had joined forces, I was thrilled ... and immediately thought that together, they would be unstoppable. The perfect marriage so to speak.

Gene had a bad experience at another location in Carrot Bay and was forced to walk away. I find it almost impossible to believe it could happen again. They simply don't deserve such bad luck.

Based on what I have heard, I believe there may have been a long series of misunderstandings that lead up to this particularly sad situation, and hold out hope that good things will come of it.

Regardless of where they end up, I know Gene and Robin will be successful. I hate cliches but truly believe that everything happens for good reason and when one door closes, another opens. Everyone is pulling for them. I wouldn't count them out just yet.

Interesting..another couple tried to open at Ke Vilas before Gene and Robin and they never got it started because of the landlord and his alleged changing of the deal..they told me the same story that Gene and Robin are now repeating. That sounds to me like a pattern..Gene and Robin heard those same stories before they got involved but believed and trusted the landlord and what he allegedly told them . I would not risk being the third party to go down that road..