RETAIL REVIVAL: Sunny Isle Management Addresses Fresh Makeover, Seeks New Tenant for Iconic Kmart Space
By JOHN McCARTHY / St. Croix Sun Staff Writer
CHRISITANSTED — If you’ve driven past the Sunny Isle Shopping Center over the last few days, you couldn't miss the bold, multi-colored geometric stripes transforming the facade of the island’s busiest commercial hub.
In a rare direct address to the St. Croix community, the management team at Sunny Isle Shopping Center expressed gratitude for the local buzz surrounding their latest revitalization efforts, while dropping a major update on the island's most talked-about piece of commercial real estate: the vacant former Kmart space.
"Our Shopping Center team is constantly focused on revitalization efforts for the Center that will enhance the shopping experience, support local economic growth, and create a vibrant destination for everyone," management stated in a public release.
Then came the update Crucians have been speculating about for months.
"Please know that the old Kmart space is not yet re-rented but that we welcome any referrals you may have to bring new businesses to the Center."
From Cane Fields to Commercial Empire
Spanning over 31 acres and featuring more than 300,000 square feet of leasable space, Sunny Isle has been the heartbeat of St. Croix retail for generations. Originally transformed from abandoned sugar cane fields by the legendary local de Chabert family, the historic center was sold in the mid-2000s to Sunny Isle Developers, LLC.
Since taking the reins, the development group has aggressively expanded its footprint across the mid-island artery. Beyond the main retail strip, the owners manage an expansive commercial empire that includes:
The Sunny Isle Annex
The Sunny Isle Movie Theatre complex
The Sunny Isle Office & Medical Complex, which hosts critical local infrastructure from WAPA and the National Guard Recruiting Office to Plessen Health Care and Quantum CT.
The Challenge of the Anchor Space
The departure of Kmart left a massive footprint vacant at the center. Finding a single tenant to fill a space of that magnitude on an island is a notorious logistical challenge—one that commercial developers across the Caribbean are facing.
While rumors have swirled locally about everything from mega-grocery chains to climate-controlled indoor agricultural hubs taking over the location, management's open call for "referrals" confirms the field remains entirely open.
The fresh coat of vibrant, retro-styled paint signaling a modern facelift proves that the landlords are betting big on the center's longevity. But the ultimate test of Sunny Isle's next era will be who steps up to claim the old Kmart crown.
Have a tip or a business referral for the vacant anchor space? Residents and business owners can contact the Sunny Isle Management Office directly at (340) 778-5830.
