Sib’s on the Mountain, more commonly known as “Sib’s,” a well-loved restaurant and bar on the island of St. Thomas, kicks off their “Sib’s Centennial Celebration” on Friday at 5 p.m.
The celebration will include a lineup of dynamic live performances from popular local bands, including Obsession Band, When Band, Top Notch, Freedom Band, and Scratch Bandits. On Saturday, the festivities continue with a family fun day slated to start at 12:00 p.m., followed by another evening of music and dancing with a live performance featuring Th3rd.
Sib’s was opened in 1924 by Jean “Joseph” Sibilly. Sibilly immigrated from the island of Saint Barthélemy at the age of 23, settling on the Northside of St. Thomas. In an effort to bolster what he believed could be a profitable agricultural economy powered by landowners on the Northside, he convened a cooperative of Northside farmers. Together they purchased 268 acres of land in Estate Lerkenlund for agricultural purposes and was the main source of fresh produce on the island for decades, according to historical records provided by the family.
Shortly after establishing himself on the island, Sibilly purchased a piece of land in Estate Elizabeth, where he built and opened “The Shop,” which served as both a grocery store and bar, now known as “Sib’s.”
Ronnie Moorehead Sr., grandson of Sibilly, recalled what led to the opening of The Shop. “There were no grocery stores on this part of the island. The French people would ride donkeys to the market downtown to buy vegetables, flour, and sugar. These purchases could only be made in quantities of five-pound bags. As they made their way up the hill, they would stop by The Shop, where Sibilly’s grandchildren would weigh and portion the goods out into smaller bags, which led Sibilly to eventually turn a small section of the building into a grocery store.
As the community’s needs evolved, Sibilly worked to reinvent his establishment to answer the growing request for a restaurant on the Northside. The family recalls regular visits by the U.S. Navy personnel stationed on the island.
The officers would come to the Northside to play baseball with the French people in Sib’s ballpark. After the games, they wanted a place to eat, drink, and socialize. This became the impetus for the grocery section of the bar’s transition into a restaurant. As time progressed, Sibilly became busy with real estate and building, so he began leasing the property to tenants over the years.
Sibilly will forever be remembered for his many contributions to the community. He not only provided a restaurant but also donated land to the community for building a chapel, a cemetery, and a school for the Northside. It was always his hope that the family would keep Sib’s and continue to ensure it was a welcoming and respectable establishment.
In 2018, Sibilly’s grandson, Leo Sibilly II, and his wife, Jennifer, decided to take over the management of Sib’s to bring the management and operations back to the immediate family. Leo, Jennifer and the entire Sibilly family take pride in serving the community with great food, service, and a place to gather. It is truly a collaborative effort among family members, from keeping the building intact to welcoming friends, locals and tourists alike.
“We will be dancing and celebrating into the night on both Friday and Saturday. In addition, we will have a raffle where winners will receive awesome prizes like gift cards, jewelry, and a boat charter just to name a few. Then we have our family fun day on Saturday that will include local vendors. This event is intended to draw families together, so we have bounce houses, a craft table, a DJ, and lots of games planned. We also want to make it easy for attendees to participate in the evening events, so we have facilitated a free shuttle service from the Fort Christian Parking Lot on both evenings starting at 7 p.m.,” said Solange Greaux, general manager of Sib’s who is excited to celebrate the longevity and legacy of the establishment.
