Nestled into the Mount Vernon shopping center, adjacent to the Leader Price Supermarket, is a kid's paradise - or is it a paradise for adults who pretend to buy for their children? Barabonbon is the ultimate candy store, with a mind-boggling selection of treats that will cause the onset of a sugar rush even before starting to sample the goodies.
The store is the creation of Anne Wantier: "After Hurricane Irma, I realized that I was missing color in my life, and I felt that the same must be true for children. Barabonbon was formed out of m
y desire to create a joyful oasis for kids."
As the former comptroller of the now sadly defunct Club Orient Resort, Anne had no in-depth knowledge of the idiosyncrasies of the candy industry, and in late 2017 she began her education. "After gaining four kilos, I decided that I knew enough to start the shop," she laughs. "Most of the Barabonbon products come from France, with a few items from the US."
Every shopper - little or grown up - receives a plastic glove and a plastic bucket. Once the bucket is filled up, the contents are weighed and charged accordingly.
The Barabonbon concept has proven to be a resounding success, and Anne is now preparing an online shopping website to allow residents of Guadeloupe and Martinique to order.
If you are staying on St. Maarten's Dutch side, you should make the easy road trip to the 'Centre Commercial de Mont Vernon'. Not only to visit Barabonbon, but to explore a different shopping opportunity. There is hardly any slow traffic coming from Philipsburg, so the destination can be reached within minutes. Next to Barabonbon is the One By K T-Shirt store, St-Martin's very own fashion label. The Leader Price supermarket as the main anchor of the center offers excellent values on groceries, beating the prices of Dutch side markets on most standard products.
Barabonbon SXM
Centre Commercial de Mont Vernon
Mont Vernon, 97150
Saint Martin
+590 690 77 50 60
Open from 12.30 PM to 6 PM
