$60 Million Nightclub Opens in Linden
-Owner eyeing CWC 2007
Guyana Chronicle
January 7, 2007
GUYANA is gearing up for Cricket World Cup and one Linden remigrant is placing his bets on making Linden the "entertainment capital" of Guyana before, during and long after the international tournament.
Rock Hamilton, a Lindener who has spent 24 years living in the United States, has moved back to his hometown and has opened what he describes as the most "technically advanced nightclub" in Guyana.
Club Ice Rock opened its doors on January 1 to coincide with the Kashif and Shanghai football finals and patrons were left in awe as they made their way into the fully air conditioned nightclub with its digital surround sound, motion censored disco lights and two levels of pure entertainment.
Ice Rock is probably the largest nightclub in the country and could comfortably host up to 1500 patrons.
The club's DJ booth is located in the upper flat of the building which also houses the VIP section.
The DJ overlooks the entire dance floor and the lower flat. Bars are located on both flats with the main bar being on the bottom flat. The Manager/Owner, Rock Hamilton said he takes security very seriously "and so I have installed three levels of security for both men and women when they are making their way into the club and into the VIP section", there's also a no smoking, no weapons policy at the club".
In addition, there are five exit points, three of those being emergency exits. “I have invested over $60 million dollars in this business and I want it to work not just for the Lindeners but for each and every Guyanese who is looking for a good night, full of entertainment," Hamilton said.
Ice Rock will also be available for hosting special events including weddings and birthday celebrations. The club has a large kitchen which cooks all the finger foods you can think of including fish fingers, prawns and shrimp. Full time waiters are also available so patrons can dance and place their orders at the bar without moving away from their dancing partner.
The interior design resembles many of the New York clubs, with neon colors and a Guyanese dash of construction work with the arched balcony overlooking the bottom flat.
Hamilton said the club will be opened all week but the party time will be on weekends, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights. From Monday to Thursday, its sip and chat at the bar with the dance floor and the VIP section being closed. The manager said he has been asked why he decided to open his multi million dollar entertainment facility in a town that is facing some economic problems. His simple answer is that he has faith in the town that raised him and shaped the lives of his entire family.
Already, management at Ice Rock is formalizing an "entertainment package" for the cricket world cup which will see patrons from the city being transported to Linden to party, then transported back to the city. "Cricket is the game of life and life should be full of entertainment and that's what I intend to provide for those cricket lovers who are heading Guyana's way for the tournament", Hamilton said.
For now, the club has begun its full list of entertainment activities and will launch a soca month of shows as Guyana prepares for Mashramani. Georgetown party lovers are being encouraged to enjoy the getaway and make their way to Linden on the weekends.
The minibus park is located just nearby so management is promising that there should be no problem finding your way home after a night at the Ice Rock.