PriceSmart, an international membership discount chain, will soon open an outlet in St. Thomas.
PriceSmart's website describes the business as a "U.S. style shopping warehouse" and announces that an outlet is "coming soon" to St. Thomas.
No company spokesman was available for comment Friday or Saturday. But informed sources say the groundbreaking will be within a month or two, and the project is scheduled for completion early next year. The warehouse will be about 54,000 square feet – making it larger than most island supermarkets and larger than Cost-U-Less.
PriceSmart reportedly is leasing land for the warehouse from Sammy Harthman near Fort Mylner. Harthman referred all inquiries to the company.
Marcus White, who sources say will be construction manager for the project, also declined comment. Tracy Roberts, who is designing the building, could not be reached for comment.
PriceSmart lists 12 locations on its website, including the U.S.V.I., where it already operates or intends to operate soon: Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Panama, Chiriqui Panama, Trinidad & Tobago, China, Saipan and the U.S.
It acquired much of its South American and Latin American business in 1998 when it bought out a Panamanian-based company called PSC, SA.
It lists a San Diego, Calif., address for its headquarters.
PriceSmart would be the first large-scale members-only discount chain in the V.I. Typically such operations charge an annual or monthly fee as dues and offer substantial savings on a wide variety of products.
