New Way Supermarket / Bruce's: Statia's Everyday Stock-Up Stop
The local grocery run that keeps Oranjestad kitchens (and dive-trip coolers) full.
Why Go
On an island where nearly every jar, box and bottle has traveled by container ship, a well-stocked supermarket is more than convenient — it's essential. New Way Supermarket, known around town simply as Bruce's, is where Statians, expats and self-catering visitors trade beach time for a shopping cart and a chance to see how a 3,000-person island really eats.
The Experience
Tucked along L.E. Saddler Road on the edge of Oranjestad, Bruce's has the familiar rhythm of a Caribbean neighborhood grocer: doors propped open, a fan pushing air through tightly packed aisles, and staff who know most customers by first name. You'll find a compact but surprisingly deep selection — Dutch pantry staples imported through Sint Maarten, American brands shipped up from St. Kitts, fresh produce that arrives in weekly waves, and a chilled section stocked with local juices, cheeses and the occasional catch-of-the-week from a fisherman down the road. It's not glossy or oversized; it's a working island supermarket, and that's exactly its charm. Come mid-morning and you'll overhear plans for Sunday BBQs, dive-boat provisioning lists and quick check-ins about who's back from Sint Maarten with the good bread.
What to Try
Grab a bottle of local hot sauce and a wedge of Gouda for the classic Statian snack pairing, or build a picnic for Zeelandia or Baby Beach: crusty bread, sliced ham, a few pieces of tropical fruit, and cold Carib or Amstel Bright. If you're self-catering, look for the imported Dutch stroopwafels, Indonesian sambal and frozen bitterballen — quiet clues to the island's Kingdom-of-the-Netherlands roots. Divers should stock up on electrolyte drinks, bananas and trail mix for surface intervals.
Insider Tip
Shipments hit Statia by container roughly once a week (typically toward the end of the week, depending on the Sint Maarten schedule). Shop a day or two after a delivery for the best produce and freshest bread — and don't be shy about asking a staff member when the next boat is in. Bring cash or a chip-and-PIN card; older magnetic-stripe cards can be temperamental, and ATMs on the island are limited.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Z/N L.E. Saddler Road, Oranjestad, Sint Eustatius (Caribbean Netherlands), a short walk or two-minute drive from most in-town guesthouses. Category: supermarket / grocery. Payment: cash (USD is the local currency) and most chip cards accepted. Bring a reusable bag — plastic is discouraged across the island. Hours generally follow Statia's typical retail pattern of morning and late-afternoon openings with a midday lull, and many shops close early on Sundays; call ahead or check locally before making a special trip.
Pair It With
- A Quiet Getaway - One-Bedroom Apartment Guide — Stocking a kitchenette at your apartment rental is the whole reason most visitors end up at Bruce's — pick up breakfast basics and sunset-cocktail supplies on the way in.
- Baby Beach Guide — Bruce's is the natural picnic-provisioning stop en route to a lazy afternoon on Statia's calmest swimming beach.
- Aquarium Dive Site — Grab bananas, water and electrolyte drinks for surface intervals between dives at one of Statia's signature reef sites.
- Alvin V. Courtar Park — Pick up cold drinks and snacks for a shaded break in Oranjestad's central green space, just minutes from the store.
