Recently the new operators of Tropicana/Sir Winston Churchill Pub, announced its reopening under a new name with loads of new ideas.
Set to open on May 15 the Grand Bahama Junkanoo Museum, Restaurant and Bar will feature Junkanoo costumes and murals on the main floor with dance areas and a space for live band and native performances.
Operations for this new concept in Freeport is being undertaken by businessman Charles Bodie, who is being assisted by Eddie Dames of the Saxons Junkanoo Group as curator.
Bodie said he plans to create the first Junkanoo Museum in Grand?Bahama which he feels will be “out of this world,” with pieces from all over The Bahamas.
“From Junior Junkanoo, and senior Junkanoo we will have pieces represented,” said Bodie. “We are also going to set up a display where persons can see live production of costumes, goat skin drums, and cowbells. The entire restaurant and bar will have a Junkanoo theme with Junkanoo dishes. Eddie does something that is called the Junkanoo soup that will be served here. It’s similar to the ‘coo coo soup’ because you can get hooked on it.”
Added to this he says he is putting together a band for the restaurant so that Grand Bahama will have a club with a live band all over again.
He noted that over the years live entertainment in Grand Bahama has sunken, and he said this is an effort to bring it back.
Once fully in operation Bodie says he hopes to employ up to 30 persons.
“We will be working with the ground tour operators, the hotels, the movers and shakers in the tourism industry and everyone, because we want them to come out and have a good clean time,” he stated.
“We are going to change the image of the night club industry in Grand Bahama. We want people to come out and have fun in a good, clean, friendly environment.”
This establishment will be opened seven days a week serving just lunch and dinner, but with future plans to open in the morning to serve breakfast.
Dames noted that the facilities had been sitting dormant in Grand?Bahama for a number of years, but they will be restoring it.
“This venue that is situated in the heart of town, once the whole concept of a Junkanoo Museum with a sport lounge etc, is created we will reinvent some kind of activity in the downtown area which tourists in particular will have a place where they can come and have a Bahamian experience outside of the area of Port Lucaya.
“I’m sure that this effort will bring some life to the downtown area. And persons who work in this area can come and have lunch here.”
As curator he said that he will provide the club with the information on Junkanoo to help with the theme, giving the story of Junkanoo.
By Yasmin Popescu
The Freeport News
