by Jeana Jack

What in the world are you going to do with all that sugar?” I asked the lady in front of me at the checkout counter. My presumptuousness in posing such a question to a complete stranger surprised me, but it was too late to take it back. Fortunately, she responded with good humour. “I make mauby,” she replied, the best mauby in St Vincent. If you drink too much of my mauby, you will get another one of those,” she went on jovially, gesturing to my two-year-old daughter. We laughed; then, in a tone of mock seriousness, I told her I’d be better off staying away from her mauby, if that were the case. We continued to chat while she checked out her 25 pound parcel of sugar, and I discovered with delight that she was one half of the couple who runs Speedy’s Step Down Bar, a small eatery in Edinboro, frequented by residents of the area, and in particular, on weekdays, by many students of the Dr JP Eustace Memorial Secondary School.

This initial exchange with Maria Thomas exemplifies her friendly and easygoing personality. Walking into Speedy’s and interacting with her and her husband, Jerald, is like stepping into a time machine and being transported to a village shop of generations past. Speedy’s is located along the Edinboro main road, hidden, albeit in plain sight, on the lower floor of the two-storey property where the couple have lived and run their business since 1984. If you are not paying attention, you would miss the simple sign attached to a column on the upstairs veranda. True to its name, patrons “step down” the long flight of stairs from the road to the bar and enter a veritable bar museum, complete with an unobstructed, picturesque view of Kingstown harbour and the Grenadines.

The walls are covered with an odd variety of paraphernalia, ranging from posters of advertisements for alcoholic beverages to framed pictures of former United States President Barrack Obama and reggae legend Bob Marley. Faded postcards from countries all over the world, which Jerald had collected during his travels as a sailor with the Bulk company, add a splash of colour to what the inattentive observer may mistakenly consider as just another village shop stuck in time.

The couple disclosed that when they first started the business, it was a very popular liming spot, with the main attraction being a pool table, which was later removed due to increasing rowdiness of patrons over the years. On evenings and weekends, Speedy’s still draws patrons from the neighbourhood looking to unwind with a drink, light snack and a game of cards or dominoes.

Apart from the selection of alcoholic beverages available, Speedy’s is known for the delicious sandwiches – hotdogs, codfish, sausage, and the homemade peanut punch, linseed and mauby. Just like the decor, the menu prices are also a souvenir of the past. Customers can purchase a sandwich and drink for as low as $2.50, an unbelievable price, considering there is hardly anywhere in Kingstown where one may buy a large drink for less than $3. This is a testament to the community spiritedness of the owners. They are not just doing business for the financial gain. “We go out for the needy. If you don’t have enough money, we try to help; that is why everybody flocks here,” said Maria.