Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Jamaica might be in economic turmoil and people low on cash, but new places of entertainment seem to be popping up across the country.

Companies have been making people redundant since late last year and, generally, disposable cash has been going into a savings account or under the mattress. Yet, entrepreneurs are still investing in entertainment spots.

In Kingston, upscale venues such as Fiction Nightclub, Pure Lounge and Plush Nightclub have opened. In Mandeville, there is Beavers and Quest. And in Montego Bay, you have Black Pearl, Klub Kokonutz and The Twisted Kilt. Also, there is Club Jamaica Jamaica in Runaway Bay, St Ann, and perhaps others The Sunday Gleaner didn't identify.

So, in a time when people do not have loads of cash as they used to, was it a wise idea to start these entertainment businesses?

Making money

Kevin O'Brien Chang, a financial analyst, explained that in a free capitalist system, people would try to find new ways of making money. And, in the same breath, he said people were likely to go out more for entertainment because the times were so tough. Nonetheless, he was still sceptical about the sustainability of all these places of entertainment.

"It's hard to imagine all of them doing well with so many new venues being open. You would like to hope all of them do well. But Jamaica is more attractive to visitors when they have more places to go," Chang told The Sunday Gleaner while adding that young people always like new forms of entertainment.

Andre Dixon, owner of The Twisted Kilt in Montego Bay, said he did not believe his US$500,000 bar and restaurant, which opened on November 1, would be compe-ting with the other clubs in the area such as Margaritaville, Pier 1 and Black Pearl.

"I decided to open something for people who like gathering. It's a sports-bar environment and there is no Irish bar in Montego Bay, so it becomes a unique environment. People will still come from time to time because they come for the novelty experience," Dixon said.

"You can't be overconfident in a bar/restaurant business in a thriving economy. So in an economy like this, people become more price-conscious, but they still gather and consume alcohol."

Dixon said he was yet to make any profit on his capital invested, but he has recuperated a large sum of the money invested in the business.

Alex Foster, who does promotions for Klub Kokonutz, said this new club was not a regular one. He said the two-storey club was completed last November, but was not fully open to the public. However, shows such as MoBay Live, which Foster organises, are held there. He said he believed the club was sustainable because people would always need some form of entertainment to distress themselves.

"This forces you to make sure your entertainment is quality because the dollar becomes more important so people will become more selective about how they spend the dollar. I think it will be sustainable because people will go out regardless," Foster said of the club which is located in Reading on the western outskirts of Montego Bay.

Economic climate

Beavers, which is a bar and grill in Mandeville, opened on December 18. Since then, it has been one of the most-visited spots in the town, especially on Friday and Saturday nights when people go there to party.

Despite the poor economic climate last year, Beavers co-owner Tonisha Stanley, was not fazed and still wanted to open the venue.

"I was using myself and my friends as examples. Though the whole economy is tight, people still go out and drink. They might not spend as much as they used to, but they still spend. I will give it a year before we start making back the money we invested because we are paying bills mostly," Stanley said.

"I think it will work 'cause in Mandeville there is not much entertainment and we cater to everybody."

Though Mandeville is not known for entertainment, Chang, who also owns Fontana Pharmacy in Mandeville, believes there might be some problems for these new venues in the area because the bauxite companies are making positions redundant.

Almost two weeks ago, Alpart Mining Complex announced that it would be making 900 positions redundant as it suspends its operation for at least one year.

"Everybody is apprehensive in Mandeville 'cause it is built on bauxite, but Mandeville has never been known as a going-out town. It's a worldly scenario and let's hope things start getting better all over the world soon," Chang said.

Fiction Nightclub, which is already a thriving business, was opened on December 9 by Stephen Shirley, Kevin Burke, Craig Powell, Zuar Jarrett, David Shirley and Gary Matalon.

Significant potential

Matalon said the owners were a bit concerned about the economy at the time.

"To say we weren't concerned would not be entirely true. However, from the initial concept through planning to opening, we all remained very confident. The entertainment industry has traditionally been consistent through tough economic times and with our niche market we felt we had significant potential," Matalon told The Sunday Gleaner.

While he was not willing to state the cost of the upscale club, Matalon said they were already on the right course to meeting their targets. And despite all the other forms of entertainment in Kingston and the poor economy, Matalon believes Fiction Nightclub will still be successful.

"Absolutely! Our marketing committee consists of some of the greatest marketing minds in the region. We are committed to giving our patrons a premium experience and will continuously reinvent ourselves with the aim of delivering the ultimate entertainment environment," Matalon said.

The marketing minds for Fiction Nightclub - Kevin Burke, Tina Matalon and Zuar Jarrett - together have been marketing executives for some of Jamaica's biggest businesses such as Appleton, Restaurants of Jamaica and Chris Blackwell's conglomerate.