Welcome…and thanks for visiting.
Steve and Margaret met in the early 90’s on the island of St. Croix, USVI, while he was operating a small chain of retail stores called Caribbean Provisions, specializing in “down island” food from Dominica.
The business specialized in fresh food; ground provisions, fruits, vegetables and other items. We ran weekly air shipments to 4 different islands (retail locations) with a Queen Aire Excalibur and a Navajo (twin engine planes).
We purchased most of the product from private farmers on Dominica, and St. Lucia, both located in the “down islands” of the Windward Island chain, closer to South America. We would fly the freshly harvested food into St. Croix, St. Thomas, Antigua and St. Martin, arriving a few hours after being picked – we became a hit as the boats normally transported the provisions on a 3 days trip, letting the food “bake” in the sun. Ever leave a banan out in the sun? Same thing!
Everyone likes their food fresh!
Margaret was born on the island of St. Lucia and grew up in the town of Piaye, then moved to St. Croix where we met. After the first visit to St. Lucia for an emergency relief flight after a storm, I new where I wanted to live, and has been traveling to the island regulary ever since.
Over the years, my wife and I have made the decision to make St. Lucia a permanent part of our life, with plans of retiring there with a home over-looking the sea – if you see pictures of this island, you will understand why.
One more thing. While traveling the Caribbean, we always seemed to be in search of a good cheeseburger and ice cold beer, never found a really good burger and the beers aren’t too cold either. We just couldn’t find our cheeseburgers in paradise. So, we came up with the idea of a tropical themed “specialty” bar and grill, nothing fancy or expensive, wanted to keep it very real. Good food and ice cold drinks at a fair price. Then we thought about expanding on the “local” rum shack to keep the down island charm. Something that will accommodate both the locals and visitors, but in a unique way.
Another thing we noticed when traveling throughout the islands, the mosquito’s developed a love for my blood…And the Skeeterz concept was born.
Steve & Margarit:
Just can’t believe your stories, I mean i do believe them, but the trials and trubulations you all have gone through to get where you are today!
Found your web site by accident today and I have spent about 1 hour this morning looking it over and I simply love it and want to come down and visit you guys. Need a winter break – usually go sking in the Vail, but perhaps I will grab my sandels, couple Harley T-’s from Port Huron for you 2…and book it! Maybe, I can spent the rest of my life there! (is there any mortgage business on the islands?)
Right now, I am listening to Island music on my office bose, …wanting the best Island Cheeezburger i can come up with. I am going home for lunch today to make the best CHEEZZBURGER on earth, myself…and dream of your place…SKEETERZ.
Hope u don’t mind, I would like to share my University of Michigan Tailgate burger recipe with you…using about 2 lbs of ground sirloin I add, 1 tablespoon metled real butter, 1 tabelspoon wortishire sauce, fresh gound pepper (as much as u want), fair amout diced onions. Note, I love onion flavor, so that’s why i put them in the burger mix, rather then have them on top of the burger…leaves more room between the buns for other topings. Combined all ingrediants – keep the handeling to a minimum while making your patties as thiick or as thin as you like. Grill over real hot white coals on the weber grill. Serve with your chips, dill pickle and top with whatever else you want! Don’t forget the Cold bursky! Note: no addtional salt added as the w/sauce and butter trypically have enough for serveral meals – Ha!
Good luck – continued success and enjoy your life – seems like you have it all down in paridize!
Gary Westrick
1st Metropolitan Mortgage
Port HUron Michigan
810-334-0975 24/7
garywestrick@hotmail.com
P.S. Hope to meet you someday – belly up to the bar and have your burger and brusky & enjoy “your place…SKEETERZ”