Businesses come and go in rocky economy in the Mariana Islands

BY MARK RABAGO
Saipan Correspondent

SAIPAN and TINIAN, Northern Mariana Islands —While many businesses across the commonwealth continue to close, downsize, or suspend operations amid a prolonged economic slowdown, others are still opening, relocating, or experimenting with new models in hopes of staying viable.

OPENINGS

Burger Chef
George Santos had already retired when he decided to open Burger Chef at the Marianas Business Plaza earlier this year. A little over two years after stepping away from professional kitchens, Santos said boredom — and a lifelong love for cooking — pulled him back.
“It turned out good, and actually it's really fun. I enjoy it, and the customers enjoy the food,” he said.

Burger Chef opened Jan. 8 and operates weekdays from 11.30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Santos said weekday traffic averages six to 10 customers, but Saturdays are significantly busier, often drawing 35 to 40 customers, particularly when evening crowds gather at the plaza.

Burger Chef draws customers at the Marianas Business Plaza in Saipan. Photo by Mark Rabago

The menu is intentionally simple, focusing on classic beef burgers with options such as teriyaki, Hawaiian-style, bacon, and cheddar cheese. Santos said he may eventually add curry-inspired burgers but wants to keep the menu streamlined for now.
Freshness, he said, is what sets his burgers apart.

Burger Chef offers affordable meals aimed at everyday customers. “It's not really some fancy burger. But it's cheap and you can have your burger and a little bit of French fries.”
Advance orders for pickup can be made at (670) 285-1206. Delivery is not currently available.

Easy Home
In San Antonio, Easy Home, a budget furniture and household goods store, opened in August, offering residents lower-cost options as many households tighten spending.

The shop is owned by long-time Saipan resident Steve Wang, 51, who said he decided to start his own business after finding it increasingly difficult to secure steady employment.

“It’s very hard to find work now,” Wang said. “I wanted to do something for myself.”

Easy Home stocks low-priced furniture, gifts and camping items. Photo by Mark Rabago

Easy Home sells mostly new furniture, mattresses, lighting fixtures, and outdoor furniture, fans, small appliances, tools, stoves, pet items, and other household goods. Wang said he intentionally focused on new items rather than used ones.

Low prices are made possible by sourcing directly from factories in China, primarily in his home province of Zhejiang. “I order from the factory, so the prices are already very low,” Wang said, noting that the store typically does not need to run heavy discounts.

Wang first arrived on Saipan in 2004 and previously worked in the garment industry. Originally from Zhejiang province near Shanghai, he said the region is known for its wholesale markets. Business, he said, remains challenging but manageable. “It’s still survival,” Wang said. “But we try.”

Easy Home is open from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday. For information call (670) 285-8606.

Homey Homie
In Garapan, Homey Homie, a boutique gift and lifestyle shop in Garapan owned by Rain Ren, opened Oct. 25 at the Tun Kikus Building, bringing ocean-inspired merchandise, furniture, and outdoor gear to the area.
“Homey means when you come in, you feel relaxed, like you’re at home,” Ren said. “Everything here is designed around the ocean and island life.”

The shop carries furniture as well as gift items including stuffed toys, hats, beach towels, and slippers.

Homey Homie also sells camping and beach gear, which Ren said has been the store’s best-selling category so far. “A lot of people here like to go to the beach and camp, and some of these items are hard to find on the island,” she said.

Homey Homie is a boutique gift and lifestyle shop in Garapan. Photo by Mark Rabago

All ready-to-wear clothing sold at the shop is designed by Ren and features island-themed graphics.

Despite the slow economy, Ren said she wanted to support the community and bring something new to Garapan. Customer response has been encouraging, particularly during extended Black Friday hours, she said.

Homey Homie is open daily from 11am to 7pm and can be reached at (670) 588-8869.

Casa Marianas
Casa Marianas, the CNMI’s first co-working and digital nomad space, held an open house Dec. 17 that drew about 50 community members.

Casa Marianas is co-owned by Blaine Graboyes and Kevin Tang, owner of the Gold Beach Hotel along Beach Road where it is also located. Graboyes said the idea emerged quickly amid ongoing hotel closures.

Casa Marianas at the Gold Beach Hotel offers co-working space and more. Photo by Mark Rabago

“We have hotels closing, but we're opening,” he said. “We wanted to show what was possible with two local businesspeople collaborating to create a new product offering.”

The facility combines co-working space, private offices, business services, and long-stay rooms, aimed at digital nomads and supporting local entrepreneurs. Graboyes said the long-term vision is ambitious. “Our goal at Casa Marianas is a thousand new businesses in the Commonwealth in the next five years.”

Beach Café
Beach Café opened Dec. 10 in San Jose in Tinian, giving residents and visitors a new coffee option. Owner Girlie Mendiola Denzer, a barista with 30 years of experience, said opening her own café was a dream come true. She was previously chief barista at Dusit Thani Guam’s Dusit Gourmet and worked at the Hyatt Regency Guam.

Denzer said the idea came after moving to Tinian and finding limited coffee options. “I told my husband, ‘Oh, I want to have a business here — a coffee shop — because that’s what I have in my work experience,’” she said.

Beach Cafe in Tinian. Photo by Mark Rabago

Beach Café has quickly gained popularity for specialty drinks such as coconut milkshakes with ice cream, dirty matcha, cinnamon tres leches, and sponge coffee.

The shop operates Monday through Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., seating up to 27 customers. For advance orders and inquiries call (670) 484-3950.

In related news, Saipan Select relocated its cannabis store to Unit 10 of the Gold Beach Hotel on Beach Road, citing declining sales and the need to be closer to customers.

“We encountered a lot of drop in sales and we wanted to be more centralized,” said Daniel Miller, head farmer for Saipan Select. The move also triggered the relocation of the company’s farm operations, which Miller said will allow greater quality control. The retail store is now open daily from 9am to 9pm.

Twinkle Kids Land and Café, Saipan’s largest indoor kids’ playground, has been placed on the market but remains operational.

Owner Peter Zhang said the decision reflects declining customer traffic and the high level of hands-on management required.

He said, “It's still making money, but it's not worth our taking a lot of time to take care of this business.”

He said four to five potential buyers have already expressed interest. The three-unit indoor facility includes in the sale play structures, slides, jungle gym equipment, a bubble-style play pool, a small gift shop, and café area. Zhang said a new owner could expand food service and operate the site as a combined restaurant and playground.

Closures in Saipan include the Hai Home gift shop in Chalan Laulau. Supervisor Helen Huang said sales began dropping last year and have since fallen an estimated 40% to 50%.

The store’s parent company, CNH Corp., will continue operating its sister store, The House, in San Jose and the three Hai Home employees will transfer there. A closing sale offering discounts of up to 70% is expected to continue through February or possibly March.

Tropic Threads closed its boutique in San Vicente Jan. 3 and is transitioning back to an online-only business model. Co-owner Jessica Alvarez said declining foot traffic, the post office relocation, and broader economic pressures made the physical storefront unsustainable.

“We've saved a lot of stuff from going to the landfill,” Alvarez said, noting the store’s sustainability mission. Remaining inventory was sold through a fill-a-bag sale, with unsold items donated to the Salvation Army.

Tropic Threads in San Vicente. Photo by Mark Rabago

The new online store launches Feb. 15, allowing Tropic Threads to continue serving customers on Saipan, Tinian, Rota, and beyond. Products are currently available at Marianas Creations and Busy Bee Workshop.

Gemkell Saipan is closing its boutiques—including Balenciaga, Givenchy, Chloe, and Kenzo at the ARC Building, citing declining tourist arrivals and changes in visitor spending behavior.

The closure took effect Dec. 31. In a statement, the company said it is coordinating with the CNMI Department of Labor to assist affected employees and explore job placement opportunities. The ARC Building opened in 2017, and Gemkell’s first Saipan boutique in 2016.

The Grandvrio Resort Saipan will temporarily close from March 29 to undergo renovations amid historically low occupancy levels caused by prolonged reductions in air service. General manager Kunito Izumi said the closure will allow upgrades to water supply, drainage, and electrical systems to improve safety and long-term viability.

No reopening date has been announced. The 426-room resort has been in operation since 1977. mbj