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West of Charlotte Amalie, the pink-stucco Nisky Center, on Harwood Highway about ½ mile (¾ km) east of the airport, is more of a hometown shopping center than a tourist area.
At the Crown Bay cruise-ship pier, the Crown Bay Center, off the Harwood Highway in Sub Base about ½ mile (¾ km) west of Frenchtown, has quite a few shops, but they only tend to be open on days when a cruise ship is docked at the Crown Bay Cruise Ship Pier.
Havensight Mall, next to the cruise-ship dock, may not be as charming as downtown Charlotte Amalie, but it does have more than 60 shops. It also has an excellent bookstore, a bank, a pharmacy, a gourmet grocery, and smaller branches of many downtown stores. The shops at Port of $ale, adjoining Havensight Mall (its buildings are pink instead of brown), sell discount goods. Next door to Port of $ale is the Yacht Haven Grande complex, a stunning megayacht marina with beautiful, safe walkways and many upscale shops.
East of Charlotte Amalie on Route 38, Tillett Gardens is an oasis of artistic endeavor across from the Tutu Park Shopping Mall. The late Jim and Rhoda Tillett converted this Danish farm into an artists' retreat in 1959. Today you can watch artisans produce silk-screen fabrics, candles, pottery, and other handicrafts. Something special is often happening in the gardens as well: the Classics in the Gardens program is a classical music series presented under the stars, Arts Alive is a semiannual arts-and-crafts fair held in November and May, and the Pistarckle Theater holds its performances here from November through April.
Tutu Park Shopping Mall, across from Tillett Gardens, is the island's one and only enclosed mall. More than 50 stores and a food court are anchored by Kmart and Plaza Extra grocery store. Archaeologists have discovered evidence that Arawak Indians once lived near the grounds.
This grocery store is the best place on the island to go for fresh fruits and vegetables. There are many ethnic, vegetarian, and health-food items as well as a fresh meat area, a seafood department, and an extensive salad and hot food bar.
This is the Caribbean equivalent of Costco and Sam's Club and it sells everything from soup to nuts—in giant sizes and case lots—without a membership fee. The meat-and-seafood department, however, has family-size portions. There's a well-stocked fresh-produce section and a case filled with rotisserie chicken and baked goods.
At this major chain shop with three outlets on St. Thomas, just choose a diamond, emerald, or tanzanite gem and a mounting, and you can have your dream ring set in an hour. Famous for having the largest inventory of diamonds on the island, this shop welcomes trade-ins, has a U.S. service center, and offers free diamond earrings with every purchase.
This gallery sells and displays works by popular local artists—originals, prints, and note cards. There's a one-person or multiple-person show at least one weekend a month.
This large, U.S.–style supermarket sells everything you need from produce to meat, including fresh seafood, a deli, and a bakery. You can find Caribbean ingredients and there's a liquor department, too.
This duty-free outlet carries a full line of discounted brand-name cigarettes, cigars, and tobacco accessories.
Head here for name-brand jewelry and designer watches in abundance. Locations also at Havensight Mall, Crown Bay Center, and the Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas.
The major Caribbean duty-free chain carries crystal from Baccarat, Waterford, and Orrefors; and china from Kosta Boda, Rosenthal, and Wedgwood, among others. There's also an assortment of Swarovski cut-crystal animals, gemstone globes, and many other affordable collectibles. It also does a booming mail-order business; ask for a catalog.
Local Color has clothes for men, women, and children among its brand-name wear such as Jams World, Fresh Produce, and Urban Safari. There's also St. John artist Sloop Jones's colorful, hand-painted island designs on cool dresses, T-shirts, and sweaters. Find tropically oriented accessories such as big-brim straw hats, bold-color bags, and casual jewelry.
