A fire, said to have been of unknown or undetermined origin, completely destroyed the well-patronized Johnno’s Restaurant & Beach Bar, and Dad’s Restaurant & Beach Bar, at Road Bay, Sandy Ground, in July last year. The fire also badly damaged nearby housing property owned by Ann Edwards.
Tourists and residents, who found much pleasure at the two hospitality places, shared the loss of Johnno’s and Dad’s over many months. They joined in looking forward to the rebuilding and functioning of both Restaurants & Beach Bars once again – at one of Anguilla’s best beaches and the main port of entry.
On Saturday, April 6, John (Johnno) Edwards held what he described as a soft opening of his place. He told The Anguillian newspaper: “I have built it back stronger with the help of the community. I have to tell everybody thanks again for all the help and energy that were put into helping Johnno’s to be back up again. I am very happy about this because people missed it.
“The new features include a VIP lounge, up on the front, as a lookout area when there is boat-racing. It is a real nice little place. As you can see, we got back some of our jazz photos so lovers of the music can see some of the old jazz players.”
Told that his place of entertainment now appears to be bigger, he replied:
“It feels so, but not in measurements. The roof is higher so that the ventilation can flow through in a better way. I am looking forward to making the same contribution to visitors and locals – as I did for the over 30-something years I have been operating here. When I came here in the 1970s nothing was happening. When I started Barrel Stay Restaurant, before I moved over here, my business brought people to Sandy Ground before August Monday.
“August Monday coming! Johnno’s will be a crazy house with lots of people. Among other things, they missed the Sunday afternoon jazz and other entertainment. I think they got accustomed to that, and when hard-working people get used to something they like it, and I think that is what they missed so much.”
He added: “For this soft opening, I have the Control Band from French St. Martin and Dutch St. Maarten which a lot of Anguillians like. That is because the band plays non-stop dancing music, and not the lot of stuff the younger bands play. The Control Band is made up of matured musicians who know what the people who follow them like.
“Thanks again to everyone who helped Johnno’s to get back up and running again.”
Next door neighbour, Dad’s Restaurant & Beach Bar, is not fully rebuilt as Johnnos. Its owner, Delbert Mussington, commented: “For Dad’s to be finished, there is a need for finance. The fire caught me just as I was getting out of bills, and now I am from a hole to a pit again. Finance is my problem right now because I don’t have a partner to help me like I did, so I am all on my own.
“Every day I try to open the bar, and on weekends I only open for lunch because I am not secured. Right now people can take whatever they want when I leave. I don’t have any shutters or the money to buy them. I am making money but I have bills which I promised everybody I would pay them every month – so I am doing that. I am trying to get out of bills first and then, God spares my life, I would see where I am going.”
