King’s Quarters
It all started at 13 Carmine in the West Village…
Vieques is a convergence. The partners who would open Corona Rubia first met as strangers before jumping into the Caribbean. Rocky was a semi-retired professional ping pong player visiting a friend. Shazz had just started his boutique real estate brokerage out of Manhattan. They both were feeling the pull of a certain geography, or maybe gravity. So they took the plunge off the big pier that afternoon and pledged to keep in touch for future visits.
Rocky went on to create a documentary capturing his re-entry into tournament ping pong. Shazz stayed in New York for another five years until he threw a couple bunk beds in his living room, pondering a life change. Pondering that took him back to Vieques. Reacquainted him with Rocky. Got them both planning another convergence.
Shazz decided on rebranding his “King’s Quarters” concept for the island. Something that they could easily spray paint on their gear since it would be a shoe string budget.
Repurposed pallet for a sign. Off-grid ambitions because after Maria the utilities had not been turned back on and – according to the city – weren’t going to be ready anytime soon.
Corona Rubia. Blond Crown. A throwback not to European royalty but the noble nature, or taino, in everyone. A seed of an idea born within empire and planted just beyond its gates.
“Certain things catch the eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart.”
indigenous proverb
“Vieques is pure magic. Our goal is to help you fall in love with this particular piece of geography while maybe improving your table skills in the process.”
Rocky Wang, co-owner
“A friend once told me that this is the land where God lost his sandals. I prefer to think he threw them away. Check in to check out of civilization.”
Shazz Baric, co-owner