My husband and I have been to St. John several times and would love to eventually retire there. My husband keeps up with the goings on on the island by reading St. John Tradewinds online. In the past week he has read about not only a strip club but also a casino that are going to be opening on the island. Does anyone know if this is true? I just can't imagine that beautiful island developing in what is, in my opinion, such a negative way.

Just for the record before anyone gets upset, I'm not looking down on anyone who goes to strip clubs or casinos - I love Vegas just as much as anyone! - just not on this beautiful island.

Yep, it's true about the strip club. It is going to be located at The Lumberyard where the old Mixology Store was. I placed an order with Gary from Mixology last night. He still runs the business, just no longer has the actual store. He said that there have been a couple of others in STJ's past but neither one lasted more than 6 months.

As for the "casino" I hadn't read about that yet until I saw your post. There are a few places that have Poker machines etc already. Cap's Place for one comes to mind and I think maybe Larry's Landing does too. I think it's a bummer as well. We have been to STJ several times in the last 2 years. Things are constantly changing. Lots of restaurants closing lately.

Say it ain't so--a strip joint just a few blocks uphill from the ferry stop? Will people make day trips over from STT for this?
Oh well, they can call it Chilly Belly's, in honor of their Lumberyard co-tenant restaurant.

CaliNurse:
Prurient interests are everywhere. Noone's going to come from St. Thomas to STJ for a strip joint. There's plenty of that sort of stuff on St. Thomas. The scary part of it all is that these things aren't really meant to cater to tourists but to satisfy the entertainment "needs" of the itinerant workers that come on island due to the construction jobs. Also, the local people are pretty conservative and I can't imagine a true ST Johnian frequenting or working in such an establishment. Myrah Keating is turning in her grave. As for the "Casino" as I understand it it's more of an arcade/cards parlor. If STJ is so foolish as to not keep a ceiling on such socially unproductive activities, we will soon see the tacky, glitzy casinos you see at the big resorts on other islands. Eeuwhhh! You know it wasn't a woman who came up with these developments...

Calinurse,
Chilly Billy's has closed, unfortunately! I was there in January the day before they closed. It's actually kind of a sad story - according to our waitress, the owners had put a lot of money into a remodel, and got in over their heads. They gave the staff zero notice and essentially just walked away (and I think were behind on wages). The staff then kept the restaurant open for one more week, using up the food they had, etc., trying to salvage some of the money they were owed. I was there with a large group (we did a girls brunch on the morning of my friend's wedding) and our waitress was wonderful and the place was packed. Such a shame that it closed - actually, I suppose by now it could have been purchased and reopened, but I'm not sure.

Wow, this is all so disturbing. My screen name remains what it is because my first trip to the islands was STJ and I have special feelings for the island...(though we are now in Vieques as it is more affordable). I so do not want it to change any more than it has.
I have to say, though, there are many gringos on Vieques that have spent time on STJ (many even with businesses on that island) that have relocated here.
I suppose it is only a matter of time before the same thing happens here...

Just got back. Chilly Billy's has reopened as "Jakes". They serve breakfast and I believe lunch too. The gaming area has a lot of work yet to be done. From the looks of it now, I wouldn't really say that it will be an eyesore. Wharfside village actually looks nicer with the addition of the new and upscale Waterfront Bistro where the old Pannini Beach restaurant was. I'll do a little trip report soon.