Hi Everyone,
My group of 16 will be arriving in Bonaire in 3 1/2 weeks, and as you can well imagine, our excitement is really growing!
We're staying in villas at the Plaza which have full kitchens. Although we have plans to enjoy some of our meals at the local restaurants, the rest of the time we're going cook for ourselves.
I want to be able to advise my group about grocery shopping in town. I'm already familiar with the Cultimara, but I'd like to know about other grocery stores in the vicinity of the Plaza, with directions on getting there as well. Are there any grocery stores that are open at night, or are open on Sunday? Thanks in advance for your help! Robyn

Robyn, be certain to check out the Warehouse...it is a fairly large (and air conditioned!) food and supply store with fresh meats and veggies. It is on Kaya Industria. If you turn down Kaya Industria and go straight you will reach the intersection...cross over and pass Lisa Gas on the right side...pass Lisa Gas and Rocargo and the Warehouse will be on the right hand side not far past that. There is also a place directly across the street from the Warehouse that has foods and other items, but we prefer the Warehouse, ourselves. Have fun! Carole

PS Kaya Industria is the street at the T intersection...right where the parking lot for the Divi Casino is located. Not far from the Plaza, but a car would be helpful in getting there and back with packages...bring your own bags or be prepared to buy their large heavy gauge plastic carry bags (can be reused for anything) at the check out. They do not accept travelers checks....cash (US or guilders ) or major credit cards are OK, tho. cb

Robyn, One correction, Warehouse does _not_ accept credit cards...I know from having been caught there with a cart full and only a credit card! Its cash or the bankimatico card.

Also, IMHO, More-for-Less is best for produce and the Latino Carnicera for meat (and on Saturday mornings, you can get whole bbq'ed chickens or pork ribs; excellent & inexpensive). Ask at the Plaza for directions to either.

Robyn, send me you e-mail address. We have put together a Bonaire suggestion sheet that has a pretty complete list of grocery stores. When do you arrive?

Thanks everyone for your suggestions,,I really appreciate it! Do you happen to know if any of the stores you mentioned are open on nights or Sundays?
Alan and Joan, I'd love to see that list that you've put together. My email address is
reefgazer@aol.com. We're arriving on July 31st.
Thanks a lot! Robyn

and don't forget the Venezualian fruit boat at the harbor..great prices...cash only...you can dicker for price here..I love getting the watermelons and plantains there cheap

Thanks Debbi, do you happen to know when you can find them there? Is it hit or miss, or do they have set hours? Robyn

Most everything is shut down on Sunday's on Bonaire. Sorry about the credit card...I guess it is Cultimara that accepted my card this year! LOL. Carole

On sundays Cultimar is open in the mornings, Sand Dollar Grocery all day, Lisa convience store all day and a few of the other neighborood tokos are open as well. If you run out of beer or need soft drinks late into the night, most of the chineese restaurants will sell six packs, etc. at reasonable prices.

The fruit market on the waterfront is there almost always Mon-Saturday, I think until around 6 pm. UNLESS, they're off picking up supplies -- and I've never actually figured if that happens on a schedule. Most times I've gone there, they're there.

Hi Josie...wish I could meet you at the fruit market and share a watermelon...do you know when you will be at Bennys yet? we have yet to set our 2005 schedule..waiting on a few things.like the economy! summer is great in Vt..but can't wait to get to Bonaire

Debbi: I've just got booked for next year: February 14 through March 28. Again, Alan will be coming for just a few weeks, probably at the beginning, haven't booked him. I was lucky to be able to use AA FF miles!!! Now, I just hope they don't cancel the route or something that mucks it all up.

I hope you'll be there when we are...I'll buy the watermelon!
Josie

I think I found all of the shopping spots mentioned here on my last trip (2 weeks on island with no diving as my babysitters got sick and could not travel) except one: Latino Carnicera. Where is it?

Cultimara and Warehouse being mentioned, also More for less, I would say this last one has absolutely excellent fresh vegetables and fruit, from Ecuador, they also bake their own bread, and from beginning August they are opening an own butchers department, it will be run by "DJ Mike", he worked with Warehouse, in the time they had the best meat of the Island.
Absolutely check out "More for less".... Kaya Nikiboko Noord 56 (from the central church into the street where "Caribbean Fasteners" is located.