Duggins Supermarket: Statia's One-Stop Shop for Groceries, Hardware & Everyday Life
The island's biggest local supermarket, where visitors and Statians alike stock up on everything from cornflakes to hammers.
Why Go
On an island of roughly 3,000 people, Duggins is the closest thing St. Eustatius has to a big-box store — a family-run supermarket in Oranjestad that quietly doubles as a hardware and department store. If you're renting an apartment, planning a beach picnic, or realized halfway through your trip that you forgot sunscreen and a can opener, this is where you'll end up. And because Statia is a free-zone import haven, prices on many imported goods are gentler than on neighboring islands.
The Experience
Walk in and it feels less like a tourist stop and more like the island's living room. Locals catch up in the aisles, staff greet regulars by name, and the shelves are a genuinely international mix — Dutch dairy and Gouda from the mother country, American cereals and cleaning products, Caribbean staples like plantains, salt fish, and Scotch bonnet peppers, plus a surprisingly deep hardware and housewares section in the back. It's fluorescent-lit, unpretentious, and refreshingly practical: exactly the kind of place that reveals more about daily Statian life than any museum could. Expect a modest fresh produce section (supply depends on the last cargo ship or flight), a decent frozen and dry-goods selection, and a small but useful liquor aisle for stocking your rental's fridge.
What to Try
Grab a bottle or two of local Caribbean rum and mixers for sundowners on your porch, pick up Dutch stroopwafels or aged Gouda for a taste of the ABC-Netherlands connection, and load up on breakfast basics — bread, eggs, fresh fruit — since sit-down breakfast options on Statia are limited. Beach-day essentials (bottled water, chips, a cooler bag) are cheaper here than at Lower Town kiosks. If you're self-catering, snag some frozen chicken or fish and the makings of a simple pasta so you're not driving back into town after a long dive day.
Insider Tip
Cash and pin-based Maestro/Dutch bank cards work most reliably; foreign credit cards can be hit-or-miss, so bring USD (widely accepted alongside the official dollar) as backup. Shop early in the week right after the weekly cargo ship arrives — usually Monday or Tuesday — for the best selection of fresh produce, dairy, and bread, because popular items disappear quickly by Friday. And don't skip the hardware aisle: it's where you'll find beach mats, snorkel gear, coolers, and extension cords that other 'tourist' shops mark up steeply.
The Practical Stuff
Located at F2M8+G34 in Oranjestad (Upper Town), a short drive or walkable stroll from most Upper Town accommodations. Typical hours are Monday–Thursday 8:00 AM–7:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM–6:30 PM, Saturday until early evening, and Sunday roughly 8:00 AM–6:00 PM — but hours shift around holidays and cargo-ship arrivals, so call ahead at +599 318 2241 if you're making a special trip. Parking is available out front. Bring your own reusable bags if you can; plastic bag use is discouraged across the Dutch Caribbean.
Pair It With
- A Quiet Getaway - One-Bedroom Apartment Guide — A self-catering apartment is the perfect excuse for a Duggins run — stock the kitchen once and skip pricey restaurant meals for the rest of your stay.
- Baby Beach Guide — Pick up water, snacks, and a cheap cooler at Duggins on the way, then head out for a low-key beach afternoon with everything you need.
- Aquarium - Dive Site Guide — Divers burn calories fast — grab electrolyte drinks, fruit, and easy post-dive snacks here before heading down to the shore.
- Bacchanalia Guide — Save Duggins for breakfast basics and beach supplies, then treat yourself to a proper sit-down dinner at one of Statia's better-known restaurants.
