Nighttime Shopping in Maho

Shoppers accustomed to the professional retail culture of North America are often confused about the opening hours of stores on our island. In Philipsburg, shops close as early as 5 or 6 PM. The fashionable boutiques in Marigot also tend to close around 6 PM, but several also shut down for a long lunch break. Don't perceive these restricted opening hours as a lack of ambition; it is just the case of different cultures on one small island. Philipsburg lives off the cruise ship traffic, and with the passengers usually gone by 4 PM, there is no point in staying open longer. And the French…well lunch is important to them, and that's that

We give you Maho Village, the one location on the island where night-time shopping is supported. With the major resorts now reopening, the Village is coming back to life after struggling through the years since Irma. Surprisingly, shops not only stay open into the night, but prices are also often better than to be found in Philipsburg.

Jewels & Linen has an outlet at Maho Village for decades now. "The name of our store might be a bit confusing," says owner Norman Motwani, "but it reflects the history of our company." What started as a souvenir and linen shop has developed into a well-established jewelry store. Norman points out that he is certain to offer better deals than most jewelers in Philipsburg. "We own the building, and we don't pay rent. We have much less overhead, and we can pass the savings on to the customer."

His son, Sam Motwani, adds: "Our customers are resort guests or stay at vacation villas. They have time to shop around for price. With us, there is no pressure to buy. We know that the customer will come back to purchase from us after they compared prices."

Jewels & Linen stays true to its roots and still offers souvenir and beachwear items. Separate from the jewelry department and accommodated in the adjacent retail space, the vacationer will find all beach essentials, plus liquors and Cuban cigars in a walk-in humidor. And of course, there is a broad selection of island souvenirs available.