St. Thomians of French Heritage had an extra reason to celebrate the Bastille Day weekend as Sib’s on the Mountain celebrated its 100th year. Two days of festivities began on Friday, leading up to a live music concert on Saturday night.
One of the organizers said the Sibs anniversary was planned for Friday and Saturday in order to leave Sunday open for the annual Bastille Day Kingfishing Tournament at Hull Bay. A banner hung on the patio railing proclaimed the centennial and the fishing tourney.
A black-and-white photo of Sibilly’s Mountain Bar hangs on a wall inside the entrance — a sturdy, one-story structure with jalousie doors and three steps leading to the shop. In those days the proprietor was Jean Joseph Sibilly, said granddaughter Lorette.
Since then the family added an encompassing patio area. The original cook shop, run by the Sibilly sisters, is now a gaming area. A spacious commercial kitchen sits at the top of a short flight of stairs.
“Every Friday, we have fish and fungi and seafood kallaloo,” said kitchen manager Angelique Vanterpool. It’s a tradition that began in the old cook shop, Lorette Sibilly said.
When the shop first opened as a grocery and rum shop, it served as a place for Northside farmers and fishermen to bring their produce for transport to the market in town. From there, Lorette said, it grew into a gathering place that gained popularity among Navy personnel stationed on St. Thomas.
“They brought their balls and bats,” she said, to play with the Sib’s Mountain Bar baseball team. Afterwards, when the players worked up an appetite, the cook shop would serve the daily dishes.
Outside, where Route 35 East meets Route 37 North, a string of canopied vendor spots set up to welcome a second-night crowd. Children’s laughter was heard coming from a jiggling bounce house.
Band and Top Notch were the headliners for the night, along with a performance by Jean Joe Sibilly’s grandson, Th3rd, Lorette said, adding that there would be dancing.
