Our next step was to find an architect. After several recommendations and upon seeing some of his previous projects Ian Edwards of Sunset Homes, know locally as “Sugar George”, was our choice. He has since won five International Architectural Awards in London. He is young, energetic, innovative and very familiar with the Island.  We tore up a lot of paper in what seemed like forever but he and his wife Janine helped us so much with design ideas and were actually able to finalize plans in a few short months. Local builder, Leroy Gumbs of Leeward Construction,  honored his promise to give our villa 100% of his attention. We are so happy to have worked with him and his lovely wife Denease and his fabulous, extremely hard working crew.

 

Fritz Smith, our project manager sent us weekly photos and then finally one photo of the Anguilla flag flying from our rooftop to signify that we now had a roof over our heads. How we loved that day! We’ve been told that we may have set a record as exactly one year to the date as promised that our 5,500 square foot villa was completed. It was Christmas Eve and the crew and our family  all had dinner together from the Long Path BBQ as we turned on the water for the first time. The best part of this experience is that we get to share it with our family. 

 

Sitting on the beach one day with our two sons, Cory and Justin, we were trying to decide on a name for our villa. They both looked at Joel sipping his favorite Tequila Sunrise drink and exclaimed together at once… that’s it… and so Tequila Sunrise The Villa was born. It was important to us to have an open outdoor feel throughout with a courtyard and stairs leading to the second floor master suites. All three of these master suites are air conditioned with king size beds and very vary large bathrooms with lovely soaking tubs and outdoor showers so our guests can enjoy the romantic feeling of being surrounded by water on three sides.

 

One of our first guest was Joel’s sister Lynn who sent a fabulous house gift… our life –sized goat named Billy she found by chance in a yarn shop going out of business. Shipping him to Miami to St .Maarten to Anguilla was really a fun experience with emails and calls from custom agents regarding- a what? A goat? Billy is such a big hit, everyone loves him and moves him around the house like a mascot. In fact two past guests, Jennifer and Lorne, got married at Tequila Sunrise Villa and dressed Billy in a little Tuxedo to be the Best Man.

 

Our management team and their staff are excellent. They do all the marketing and bookings and are good friends as well. Heather Heyliger, our housekeeping manager, treats Tequila like her own. She is wonderful with the guests, loves the children and makes the most delicious drinks and breakfasts. 

You will surely be in for a treat and never want to leave.  

 

Our new website is designed and maintained by Jayne Bierman of Classy Websites. We are so pleased and it was a pleasure to work together on this project. We sold Tequila Sunrise two years ago.  It is now renovated with new furniture as well. Billy, the mascot goat is back.

 

The new owners are Mike and Denise Downing.

 

Here is a little bit about them. I’m Mike Downing, married to my beautiful, wonderful wife Denise (whom I’ve known since kindergarten). We have two boys, a 14-year-old son, Danny “Fuller,” and Patrick, who is 16. As a family, we’re on the road constantly with both of our boys who play hockey. And when I’m not with the family, I’m behind my grill. We have a little carriage house in Cleveland, an outdoor house that’s my mancave. I used to host a show called Garage Cookin’ online, and it’s known for the backdrop… filled with beer cans I’ve been collecting since 1976. I’ve had a love of all things BBQ since cooking with my dad, and traveled the south learning variations of my sauce and recipes, until perfecting my own.

 

Traveling is in my soul. Whenever I could get away or save enough, I was always up for the adventure. All through my 20s and 30s, I traveled the world. Europe, North America, UK, Scandinavia, Africa, throughout the Caribbean and remember thinking, it’s a place I wanted to hang my hat one day. We were looking at the Caribbean and our criteria were pretty simple—is it safe, is the weather good, are the beaches nice, what’s the potential for rentals? What’s there to do? And when we found Anguilla, the choice practically made itself. We loved the island because it’s unlike any place we’ve ever been. You feel secluded, safe, and simply peaceful. But it’s the people that really sold us, they are incredible.

  

The Grand Outlook simply felt like home to us; it’s at the second-highest point on the island. Wait until you’re here! With outdoor balconies extending from every bedroom, every Anguillan sunrise and sunset can (and should!) be watched.

 

After that they purchased Tequila Sunrise Villa from Robin & Joel and The rest is history. They now own Grand Outlook and Tequila Sunrise. Both villas are available for rental. They will continue with the Tequila Sunrise tradition of luxury and fun. You will see fantastic Sunrises and Sunsets from the villa.

 

Our recipe to enjoy both and the hours in between is:

 

Fill a Tumbler to the top with ice.

Add one part silver Patron to one part Orange juice. Drizzle Red Grenadine over the top ever so slightly.

 

And there you have it…

A Perfect Tequila Sunrise!

 

Robin & Joel Globus

 

Mike & Denise Downing ( new owners )