Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings is a classic deli and gift boutique with a Caribbean twist. Find classic deli sandwiches, traditional meats, cheeses, soups and salads at this unique bistro tucked away in the courtyard of Apothecary Hall on Company Street. Owners Ellen Ross and Todd Kirkpatrick both moved to St. Croix in 2017 before hurricanes Irma and Maria. Through a shared love of football and supporting one another during the catastrophic storms, they fell in love. The connection they witnessed and felt during the rebuilding of the island solidified their desire to become part of the downtown Christiansted community by providing a fun place for families and kids to eat, laugh, and shop.
Todd is an accomplished chef who dreamed of one day opening a New York style deli featuring sliced meats and cheeses, fresh salads, soups, and sides. Ellen brought her talent in sales and marketing that expanded during her time at Procter and Gamble offering all “Dem Tings” you didn’t know you needed. There is something for everyone at this unique St. Croix gift boutique, from tadpole tings for kids, mermaid tings for women, pirate tings for men, and furry friend tings for pets. “It’s a crazy little store, and we have fun with the selections we offer,” said Ellen. She boasted that they have the best selection of toys and treats for all kinds of pets, including dog and cat wines. “You can alter your attitude and your animal’s attitude at Dem Tings!”
Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings opened in December 2022, and they knew they found the perfect location in the former Café Christine location in Apothecary Hall. The deli menu items are named after notable island landmarks and locations, like the ever-popular hot sandwiches named The Christiansted and The Blue Mountain. They offer gluten-free and vegetarian options as well. This family friendly café makes waiting a pleasant pastime with fun games on the porch tables and a pirate chest with free toys for the kids. “We want to make sure kids can have fun along with the adults.” Customers visiting the deli also get to snap a picture of them jumping up in the space. The tradition started when a guest said their order made them jump up with joy; since then, every new customer gets their picture taken mid-jump when they jump for joy with their orders.
Each Art Thursday, they host “Arf Thursday” where St. Croix Animal Welfare Center sets up a petting area with their loveable pets to encourage adoption and donations to the organization. Beautiful artwork from their artists-in-residence, Pat Alfrey and Emelyn Morris-Sayre, are also on display for purchase and viewing during the event.
Jump Up Deli and Dem Tings is opened Tuesday to Friday from 10am to 5pm and Saturday from 10am to 4pm. The store opens at 10am; the grill opens at 11am. You can find them in downtown Christiansted at 6 Company Street in the historic Apothecary Hall courtyard across from LEVELS VI. Check out their menu and see more of “dem tings” they offer by visiting their website at www.jumpupdeli.com. For takeout orders, call 340.712.0002.
Question: “Can I use my lender in the states to get a loan for a property on St. Croix?”
Christie’s Answer:
It’s very important to use a lender who is licensed in the US Virgin Islands and complies with our laws.
Some Buyers do use a Home Equity Line of Credit Loan (HELOC). They are borrowing against the available equity in their stateside home and that house is used as collateral for the line of credit.
We would be happy to send you a complete list of licensed local and national lenders so that you have options. This includes both banks and mortgage companies. Contact us here!
The 27th annual Mango Melee Tropical Fruit and Mango Festival was held in at the St. George Village Botanical Garden in St Croix on July 9, 2023. This popular family-friendly event offers kids activities, educational workshops, food competitions, tropical fruit demonstrations and tastings, and the ever-popular Mango Eating Contests. Visitors enjoy local food and drinks, arts and craft vendors, cultural dance performances, Moko Jumbies, music and more throughout the day. As the VI Consortium reported, Yasmine Tuitt, 14, defended her title and emerged as the winner of the Mango Eating Competition for the second consecutive year at the 27th annual Mango Melee. 9-year-old Anita Thomas won the Mango Eating Competition in the children category. Congratulations!
Many local vendors also had tables selling mango and tropical fruit delicacies and products. It is a great annual event that brings the community together!
The St. Croix Source has some great photos, check it out here.
July 3rd of this year is the 175th celebration of USVI’s Emancipation Day, history. It was a week long commemoration to honor the heritage of the Virgin Islands and celebrate the hard-won freedom of its people. Events included a parade, concerts, a freedom walk, panel discussions and more. We are excited to see a nationally published publication like Essence.com write wonderful article about the commemoration events.
St. Croix Source also has an article about the events starting with July 3, 2023 in the Fort to Fort Freedom walk, a Libation and Calling the Names of the Ancestors Ceremony, and with music and fireworks after dark. In between, there were music, art shows, Quadrille dancing and a Quelbe tramp, just to name a few highlights.
One of St. Croix’s newest tours offers a glimpse into the Golden Age of Piracy! St. Croix Sailing Adventure Tours with Stanford Joines, author of The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. is a private tour experience that allows guests to relive the incredible pirate history of St. Croix in Salt River Bay.
Joines has been sailing Caribbean waters and diving pirate shipwrecks for over thirty years. He taught sailing to children on St. Croix during this time, racing in regattas with them throughout the Northern Caribbean. A retired teacher, Joines spent eight years researching St. Croix’s history and learned that pi-racy was a large part of the island’s past. This fascination with piracy in the Caribbean led him to pen his book, The Eighth Flag: Cannibals. Conquistadors. Buccaneers. PIRATES. This untold story of the Caribbean and the mystery of St. Croix’s Pirate Legacy explores piracy on St. Croix from 1493 to 1750. While seven flags are known to have flown over St. Croix during this time, it is said that pirates, conquistadors, freebooters, buccaneers, and the like ruled the Caribbean and called St. Croix home. Under this eighth flag, they would steal at sea without regard for ‘permission,’ paying no attention to whatever country had ownership. Joines’s company, Eight Flag Charters, has commandeered a vessel that sails with the tide for two-hour adventure tours seven days a week. Aboard Folly, guests get to sail in the wake of Blackbeard, Bellamy, and Black Caesar on the beautiful waters of Salt River Bay found on St. Croix’s north shore. On this customizable private tour, you can omit or include the pirate history, try your hand at sailing or enjoy a relaxing sail out of the bay and into the Caribbean Sea. You can also opt for an intimate sunset cruise with the sound of wind and waves as the soundtrack for your excursion. Water and soft drinks are provided, but guests are free to bring their favorite libations along for the adventure.
Tours are $75 per adult and $45 for children 12 and under, with a $250 minimum to set sail. Book your tour on their website or email stan@stanfordjoines.com to arrange for your private adventure. For more information, visit www.stanfordjoines.org/tours or call 340. 332.2472.
