St. Thomas USVI · Attractions

Grand Galleria

St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands

The capital of the United States Virgin Islands, the historic district of Charlotte Amalie in the heart of St Thomas, is the most visited port in the Caribbean and the sightseeing and shopping starting point for most visitors to the island arriving first to this waterfront town that combines natural island beauties with a sophisticated cosmopolitan atmosphere.

The old warehouses that once lined Charlotte Amalie in the Danish piracy and trade days gone by still stand but most visitors to the island explore Charlotte Amalie to shop rather than to look at its history, not that bad since a shopping day at Grand Galleria, seated at the head of Dronningens Gade, better known as Main Street, house of a large variety of stores and a rewarding shopping experience.

Grand Galleria gathers shopping and history in one place; the site was built between 1839 to 1841 was originally the Charlotte Amalie Grand Hotel and served as one-time social center when the first Carnival King and Queen were crowned and later they married and held their wedding reception at the hotel. The Grand Galleria structure is an excellent example of the 19th century Neoclassical Tuscan architecture. The building occupies an entire block across the street from the Emancipation Garden and overlooking the beautiful harbor and it is adjacent to another 19th century architectonic jewel, the Frederick Lutheran Church.

Until 1975, Grand Galleria served as the main city hotel and closed since then until 1994 when the approaching of the new century was the motivation to restore this place and set Grand Galleria reborn exactly in 2000 as a shopping destination with a massive and impressive renovation of the second floor Terrace featuring a high ceiling with series of elegant columns and arches in addition to the atrium with skylight, an elevator, a wheelchair lift to allow handicapped access and the opening of the original courtyard which now provides outdoor seating for several of the current restaurants.

The world-class duty free shopping in Charlotte Amalie is abundant but not complete if you don't buy at Grand Galleria at least once and retail space is available for those wanting to start a business adventure inside this complex of four separate, two-story buildings comprising on 2,000-square-foot area complete with courtyards and grand sweeping staircases.

Nowadays, Grand Galleria is home of an eclectic mixture of shops, offices, cafes and restaurants holding international cuisine, oriental dishes and, of course, the typically tropical meals, punches and drinks. Fine dining, informal lunches and exciting night life are just few of the many attractions awaiting for shoppers, locals and visitors wanting to have a good time but don't forget to observe the most elemental safety measures as in any other city worldwide: when walking, stay on well lit zones and streets at night and take a taxi for long distance nightly rides.

Some of the stores at Grand Galleria include the Tanzanite International, Del Sol and Beni Iguanas for eating the Famous Mussels drenched in the houses mouthwatering Iguana Sauce or Sushi costing only $2.50 USD per 3 pieces. For Art lovers, the Grand Galleria Art Gallery has a permanent exhibition of MAPes MONDe, the Virgin Island Publisher of images, maps, books and botanical prints with rare books, maps and fine paintings while Gallery St. Thomas inside this same building, exhibits temporary collections.

While shopping don't forget the United States government allows US citizens $1,200 worth of duty-free imports which must be declared but this applies in per-person basis and therefore can be pooled joining declarations as possible with family members or business companions to multiply the allowed exemptions sum.

The gifts mailed home to relatives and friends and are unlimited and exempt from tax or declaration while their worth does not exceed $100 each but sums over $2,200 in total are dutiable. In general terms Charlotte Amalie store hours are Monday through Saturday from 9am to 5pm since Sunday hours are affected by cruise ships but most stores stay open half a day in the morning except when there are no ships at the port and several stores might choose to stay open all day long. In Main Street, where Grand Galleria is located, stores are closed during the Carnival Parades usually celebrated the last week of April or first week of May on a Friday and Saturday.

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See you on the Island, John "Big Hat" Walsh