Scrub Island group leases Marina Cay; Restaurant to be revived

When Charles C. Tobias, the former owner of Pussers British West Indies Limited, announced in 2019 that Pussers would no longer have a presence on Marina Cay after more than 25 years, many residents, as well as tourists, had expressed sadness.

Now comes news that Marina Cay is under a long-term lease to Scrub Island Development Group.

There are also reports that the restaurant will be revived.

The restaurant was damaged by Hurricane Irma in 2017 and never rebuilt.

According to Joe C. Collier, President and Founder of Mainsail Lodging and Development, “A reclamation project is underway and the heavy debris and rubble from the previous storms have been removed.

“New activation plans are being developed and the island will be brought back to life in the next few months,” Mr Collier told Virgin Islands News Online.

Meanwhile, General Manager of Scrub Island Resort Mr Michael J. Schoonewagen also confirmed to our newsroom that Marina Cay is now under lease to Scrub Island Development Group and anticipates that a restaurant will be among the facilities available to guests.

“This is all new and we are still in discussions, but I‘m sure one of the moving parts will be reviving the restaurant,” Mr Schoonewagen stated.

According to Joe C. Collier, President and Founder of Mainsail Lodging and Development, a reclamation project is underway at Marina Cay and the heavy debris and rubble from the previous storms have been removed.

History

Marina Cay, an 8-acre island, was occupied in the late 1930’s by newlyweds Robb and Rodie White. Robb’s best-selling book of 1953, Our Virgin Island, chronicled their life on Marina Cay. It became a film starring Sidney Poitier and John Cassavetes, much of it filmed on the island.

For 20 years after American Robb White’s departure for WWII, the island lay uninhabited for some time until it was purchased by American entrepreneur and lawyer Eugene K. Tonkonogy and a small hotel opened on the island in 1960.

In the early 1990’s, Charles S. Tobias, on leasing the island, set about building a very small and intimate resort with a gift shop and Pusser’s Restaurant.

General Manager of Scrub Island Resort Mr Michael J. Schoonewagen also confirmed to our newsroom that Marina Cay is now under lease to Scrub Island Development Group and anticipates that a restaurant will be among the facilities available to guests.