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It all started on November 11th. In 1949, when Marius Stakelborough decided that, even though there was no electricity on the island, going to bed at 7pm was not an option. So he invited some sailor friends to his house to while away the evenings reading books or playing dominoes by the light of kerosene lamps. This was the genesis of a place that would become iconic: the Select. But in which its founder would only truly invest himself after the devastating passage of Hurricane Dog, on September 1, 1950. The latter hit the island hard and destroyed the fleet of schooners. Le Sélect then became the canteen of the craftsmen of the windy districts but also of the Guadeloupeans hired by the local shipowners to repair the damaged ships. Le Sélect, the first bar of Saint-Barthélemy, certainly, but which also served as a bookstore until 1987. An institution, in short, which will celebrate from this Saturday and until Monday, the day of its anniversary, its 75 years of existence.
Sadly, Marius is no longer there to mingle with customers, receive the Queen of Sweden, pull the bee over the bar with passing friends or evoke parts of the island's history between two concerts. He passed away on June 18, 2020. But the Select is still standing and its success remains undisputed. Mainly thanks to the efforts of the third generation of Stakelborough who are at its head.
" This is the very first establishment on the island and we were keen to offer a traditional event, a party in which all customers, whether recent or long-standing, recognize themselves, explains Max. The entire program has been designed like a festival. There will be things going on all day long. We are really looking forward to it. We have customers who have come from abroad for this anniversary. Marius was still here for the 70th birthday. This is the first key date where he will not be here with us. " Another reason to respect the spirit of the place.
On Saturday afternoon, the group New Creation was supposed to perform at the Select. But one of its musicians was none other than Christian Laplace, who recently passed away. "We are thinking of him and his entire family," sighs Max, who has therefore decided to replace New Creation with the M Fire Band. The group will play from 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. Then at 9 p.m. a Caribbean Party will begin, hosted by four DJs (Ice T, Miss Leila, Eyedol and Speyenol).
While Sunday will be reserved for family, that of Monday will begin with a belote tournament, from 9:30 a.m. A more official ceremony should be organized during the day, between 4 and 6 p.m., to mark the anniversary date. With, perhaps, speeches, a wine of honor, again in the presence of the entire Stakelborough family. But then, notably in the evening with a new concert delivered by the Ambyans group, the party will resume its rights. And to be certain that these days of celebration take place in the greatest serenity, the Territorial Community has ordered: the closure of the sections of the street surrounding the Select, from 8 p.m. to 2 a.m., on Saturdays and Mondays.
As with every event, the establishment's team awaits all its customers, wherever they come from. "For two or three years, the weekend evenings have attracted more young people, but all the customers continue to come," Max says happily. "We never have a day that is the same. Just take a photo of the terrace! They are never the same customers and you meet all types of people there. It's always funny to find a meter apart an American billionaire, a seasonal worker there for six months and an old local. It is a unique place on the island. The decoration, the tables, the chairs, we keep everything. This one (He dacute;signifies a small table stuck against a wall, editor's note), I saw it in old photos. It has been there practically since the beginning. We have this desire for tradition in all the decisions we make. "But tradition does not exclude modernity. Consequently, on Saturday and Monday, T-shirts pressed especially for this 75th anniversary will be sold to customers, as well as numbered bottles of rum. All in limited edition. " "It's more to keep them than to consume them," smiles Max.
For three years, the Select has been experiencing a new era with management that strives to perpetuate the spirit of the place. "All our investment and all our energy are rewarded by our customers," says Max. The "executive" employees have been the same for years, and remain. "We call on reinforcements during the peak moments of the season, but this year, for example, we only have three more people out of the eleven who are there during the season," he explains. Not forgetting some external contributions. Like that of Amélie Mariotti, from Studio me, who designed the poster for the 75th anniversary.
Marius can rest in peace, his Select is in good hands.
75th anniversary program
Saturday, November 9
• 12:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.: M Fire Band concert.
• 9 p.m.: Caribbean Party (DJ Ice T and DJ Miss Leila, DJ Eyedol and DJ Speyenol)
Monday, November 11
• 9:30 a.m.: Belote competition
• 5:00 p.m.: official ceremony
• 8:00 p.m.: concert by the Ambyans group
Marius Stakelborough, the founder
Before and after the creation of the Select in 1949, Marius Stakelborough traveled a lot, as one would have said in his time. Born in 1923, he was a photographer, bookseller, weather station manager, but also and above all a sailor. Thus, for ten years, he crisscrossed the sea between the islands of the Caribbean to transport various and sundry goods. Passionate about the history of Saint-Barth, he was particularly interested in the Swedish period. Moreover, the Select was not necessarily just a party place. "You could learn there," he recounted in the JSB in 1999 (JSB 372). "I was the one who brought culture to Saint-Barth." At Select, customers found books, but also records that Marius imported from Guadeloupe, France or the United States. With a desire for eclecticism that pushed him in particular to promote what he called "beautiful music", classical music for which he created an amateur club.
Through photography but also with films, he captured the essence of his daily life and that of the island for years. He was also the author of the first postcards of Saint-Barth. Treasures carefully preserved.
Adore Swedes and Americans alike, it has been the subject of several documentaries, such as "Les amis de Marius", broadcast in 2009. "Le Select has received people from five continents, of all races and all conditions with the same grace and respect," Marius rejoiced in 2009. "Le Select is my happiness." There is no doubt that it still does so for the many customers, regular or passing through, who come there throughout the year.
