By Andrew Clunis,
Freelance Writer
THE CACTUS nightclub in Portmore is close next week after eight years of operation.
A lot has changed for the proprietors, brothers Brian 'Ribbie' Chung and Chris 'Gypsy' Cargill over that period. They have won a business leader awards during that period and are seen as two of Jamaica's most successful young entrepreneurs.
To start the business, Cargill said he borrowed money from his mother and Chung from his in-laws.
"We saw an ad in the Sunday Gleaner. It ran for several weeks and nobody responded. We decided to take up the challenge and sought help. When we looked at the place it was old and dilapidated. But we had a vision and we went right in," Chung told The Gleaner.
"When we bought the place we didn't even know who we were buying it from. It was a while after that we found out. I would just like to make it clear that my brother and I have never cohorted with or acted on behalf of anybody with ill-repute. We just worked hard to make Cactus a success.
"A nightclub requires 20 hours a day, five days a week. Every dollar that we earned we worked extremely hard for. There was not one night when either of us was not at the club. It's just a pity that success breeds such envy," Chung continued.
From the revenue at Cactus, they opened the Asylum Nightclub and Jamrock Restaurant in New Kingston.
Chung told The Gleaner it was a painful decision to close Cactus. "That was where it all started. There is so much sentiment attached. But it's the end of an era.
Done its time
"Most nightclubs have never run more than three to four
years and Cactus has more than done its time. It's a hard decision that we have taken, but as we have said to a lot of people, any great athlete must know when to pull out gracefully," said Chung.
He said people's desires in entertainment have changed, with more people going to exotic clubs and 'massage parlours'. "There is now a wider band of entertainment and more clubs are opening up in rural areas. I am happy to see that entrepreneurs are investing in this type of business," Chung said.
Despite the closure of Cactus, the owners will retain the rights to the name. "We will not be using that name for anything. That name is retired. It's in tribute to a club that has won five consecutive double awards for Nightclub Of The Year," he said.
The brothers own the section of the building which houses Cactus, but do not have any no immediate plans for the location. However, they intend to redeploy Cactus employees to the Asylum.
Chung said he has given thought to operating in the resort areas. "One day I would like to go into the major resort areas if the opportunity arises," he said.
Cactus will wind down with a week of celebration.
