At the end of November just after Thanksgiving, a long-established business on St. Croix burned to the ground overnight. The island community is saddened by the total loss of the HH Tire & Battery building, which was located in the Castle Coakley area. HH has been serving the people of St. Croix for 52 years, established in 1964 by Howard Hensley.
The cause of the aggressive blaze is still unknown, but quickly engulfed the entire building, causing the roof to cave in. Thankfully a heavy rain shower in the early morning hours helped firefighters finish putting the fire out. Due to the batteries and auto-related chemicals in the building, which were released into the air by the fire, six schools and some government offices downwind from HH were closed the following day.
However, in a rapid turnaround, the owners of HH Tire & Battery announced earlier this month they have found a temporary location from which to run the business until they rebuild. Welcome news for the 30-people employed there and for the St. Croix community, which has come to rely on the business for auto parts and vehicle maintenance. The short-term location is across from Junie’s Restaurant on the east end of Hess Road on the south shore of St. Croix. As of December 2, the HH team was working diligently to set-up the temporary location, with the official opening date to be announced.
The Farchette & Hanley Team is pleased to support small businesses on St. Croix. Whether it’s searching for commercial property or a home, The Hanley’s have more than 50 years of combined real estate experience. As the top broker on St. Croix, Chris is the authority on Virgin Islands real estate, with license to sell on St. Thomas too. Contact them today and download their complimentary St. Croix Event