I have always believed that there are several indicators of one’s maturity. And by maturity, I don’t mean age; but rather growing up and either tackling life’s problems or creating new ones, depending on how you look at it.

 

I mean, for instance, making your own dentist appointments, which I started doing two years ago. I felt like a big girl for that and I love my dentist, who believes there is no reason to suffer unduly in today’s age of advanced pharmacology.

 

And now I am about to really take on some big girl stuff!

 

When I told my mother I had an announcement to make, she held her breath and wanted to know if it was a girl. Well, it’s not a girl...or a boy. It’s a restaurant! It’s Skinny Legs Restaurant in Coral Bay, St. John to be exact!

 

By the time you read this, my husband and I will be the proud new owners of the iconic, open-air, sail cloth for a ceiling, multi-colored and beloved establishment that is Skinny Legs.

 

 

 

For anyone who has been to St. John before and visited this funky bar and grill in Coral Bay, don’t expect any changes. Since it’s not broken, as they say, we have no intention of fixing it.

 

I feel no need to leave my mark on the restaurant and the famous burgers will not be replaced with vegan patties. Please rest assured that what you love about Skinny Legs — the laid back vibe, the pledge of “Same Day Service”, the local flare and the great and affordable food and drinks — will remain unchanged. 

 

For anyone who hasn’t visited St. John or Skinny Legs, come on by! You’ll find a place that is warm and friendly, relaxed and just plain fun. And the burgers really are great, but so are the salads and sandwiches too. So vegetarians, we’ve got something for you.

 

 

While this new ownership thing will certainly be a change of pace for us, it’s kind of keeping the restaurant in the family. See, my husband has worked at Skinny Legs for about 12 years. He started working there as a prep cook shortly after we arrived on St. John and has been the manager for the past five years, manning every single position in the restaurant in the intervening years.

 

He is well versed in Skinny Legs history and plans to stay true to the vision of founders Moe Chabuz and Dougie Sica. Which as far as I can tell is basically to be a respectful neighbor and community member, while offering a place for people to unwind and have fun while enjoying some great food and drinks.

 

 

Beyond just being a bar, Skinny Legs is also kind of a de facto community center for Coral Bay. The volunteer sailing group I coach on Saturdays meets there; the Coral Bay Yacht Club calls it home base; several regattas are based out of the restaurant each year; there are horseshoe tournaments, Super Bowl parties, loads of concerts and parties and more. 

 

Moe and my husband are actually so alike it’s almost a little scary. Dougie passed away a few years ago, which is when my husband started to help Moe run the business. Moe is ready to retire and, while walking away from the business that he built literally from the ground up with his best friend, is emotional, keeping Skinny Legs in the Skinny Legs family so to speak, is a consolation. 

 

 

Personally, buying the business is literally a dream come true. I remember the first time my husband and I walked into the restaurant. It was on New Year’s Day 2000, back when the bulk of college bowl games were still played on that day. The place was packed and everyone was watching football and having a great time. It was loud, it was crowded and it was a ton of fun! And now it’s ours! How crazy and exciting is that?!

 

So while this is my first act of shameless self-promotion, I wanted to share my news with all of you! We’re having a restaurant! Cheers!

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