For many of those living in Grand Cayman over the last decade, Camana Bay has maintained a constant presence on their weekly calendar.
Whether it’s play time in the Crescent fountains, Story Time at the bookstore, drop’n’plays at Starfish Village or checking out the Observation Tower, Camana Bay has made a meaningful mark on many families’ lives. With over 1,700 people working in the Town Centre, Camana Bay has become the place they travel to each and every weekday, enjoying offices with water views or peaceful courtyards outside their front door, filled with lush landscaping of local flora. More than 130 people live in The Terraces, enjoying ready and regular access to the amenities of Camana Bay, including the quickest commute on the island if they happen to also work in the town, and an easy stroll home from a dinner out or happy hour drinks at one of the busy bars. For those living in Grand Cayman, the over 40 locally owned shops and boutiques offer a tempting option for a one-stop shop for those weekend errands while the 15 cafes, eateries and restaurants and over 600 annual events offer a tempting reason to linger longer. And for those who aren’t living in Grand Cayman, Camana Bay has become a must-visit on their vacation itineraries, with the opening of the Rise offering a quick and easy 15-minute walk from the condos and hotels on Seven Mile Beach through to the Paseo, running down the centre of the town. Meanwhile, Cayman Ferries’ water taxi service between Camana Bay and Kaibo and Rum Point offers a 20-minute ride into the town for those staying on the other side of the island.
As Camana Bay approaches its 10-year anniversary, all are encouraged to share their memories of a decade of the Town Centre. Post what Camana Bay means to you on social media with photos of memories from the last decade in the town and use the hashtag #CamanaBay for the chance to win a CI$100 Camana Bay Gift Card! The winner will be drawn on Tuesday, 7 November.
And make sure to come on out on Thursday, 9 November, for the Town Centre 10th Birthday Party, from 4-7 p.m. The event will begin with local act Big Sun performing before another local band, The Neverines, takes the stage at 5 p.m. Food for purchase will be available from the restaurants of Camana Bay, who will be cooking up their interpretation of a traditional fish fry. Satellite bars will keep everyone refreshed while a crafting station and face painting will entertain the little ones. What would a birthday party be without cake? There will be a fabulous cake for all to enjoy before the evening finishes off with a spectacular 10-minute-long fireworks display.
The future of Camana Bay
In the latest in Grand Cayman real estate news, Dart Real Estate, developer of Camana Bay, recently announced they had submitted an application to the Department of Planning for permission to build a supermarket at the northern end of Camana Bay.
The supermarket will be leased by Foster’s Food Fair, which will already be familiar to those who live, work and visit Camana Bay as the company owns Bay Market, a popular eatery in the town. In addition to constructing a supermarket, a four-level parking structure would be built alongside it to enable approximately 325 cars to conveniently park next to the supermarket for ease of grocery shopping and running errands.
In a town where life blossoms, growth is necessary to continue meeting the needs of the 130+ people who live here, 1,700+ people who work here and over 110,000 people who visit the Town Centre every month. Always thoughtful in design (click here for some unique design facts you might not have known about Camana Bay!), the Town Centre is ‘blossoming’ in a beautiful and functional way. Whether it’s opening Camana Bay’s newest commercial building last January, 18 Forum Lane – the first LEED Gold-certified commercial building in the Cayman Islands – or welcoming new shops, restaurants and services every year (such as the recently opened Pani Indian Kitchen), or planning a new 60,000-square-foot supermarket, the designers behind Camana Bay are always considering our visitors’ needs when planning the next step.
In the weekly series, Cayman Shorts, host Tammi Sulliman met with design and development manager Rick Aspin, who showcased the 3D model of the 675 acres of Camana Bay that the architectural and design teams use when plotting out the future of the town.
As Camana Bay celebrates 10 years since it opened its doors, it is helpful to look back to truly realise how far the development has come. From ground breaking in 2005 (after years of master planning) to Cayman International School opening in September 2006 to the first offices moving in in November 2007, the Town Centre is now home to 15 cafes, eateries and restaurants, 40 locally owned shops and boutiques and 45 companies.
With hopeful additions such as the new Foster’s Food Fair supermarket, the future of Camana Bay is looking just as bright as the past 10 years have been. Foster’s IGA Managing Director Woody Foster says he has only high hopes for the next step. “We have enjoyed great success with our Bay Market location at Camana Bay and we are excited to open a new supermarket where there is more space for shoppers. This allows us to offer an enhanced experience with more brand variety gourmet goods and speciality items, as well as our core offerings for our loyal customers, who can count on us to deliver quality products at affordable prices with excellent service,” said Mr. Foster.