Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent is in Wuse II in Abuja. Wuse II is one of the high-brow areas in the FCT and home to the hospitality industry, malls, plazas and hotels. Following its centrality, the popular street has become the home of relaxation for the rich and mighty who inhabit Abuja districts like Maitama, Asokoro, Central Business District (CBD) and Wuse, among others.
Apart from several banks that have their branches on the street, the crescent is home to several shopping malls and supermarkets like the popular Amingo Supermarket (now temporarily shut), Exclusive Supermarket, AP Plaza which is home to several electronic appliances marketing companies, household goods and offices, Suya and relaxation spots like Cubana, Barbedos Lounge and Restaurant, and hotels like Rockview and New Chelsea.
While the average Abuja residents frequent gardens, especially when they need to give their family a treat, clubs and lounges are the exclusive preserve of the nouveau-riche in town to exhibit class.
Among the upscale clientele are political office holders, business executives and top civil and public servants.
Checks by Abuja Review revealed that the street is busier at night than at day time. It can be safely said that it is a street where there is no ‘night’ going by the number of clubs and lounges that dot the area. Clubbing and relaxation are daily affairs on this crescent.
It was further discovered that as a result of the large concentration of relaxation centres in the area, competition among the various operators has become intense. They now employ ingenious means in their scramble for customers.
The question is: Why have those in the hospitality industry chosen to pitch their tents along a major street in the heart of Abuja? While most club owners in the area confirmed that business is good, others attributed the attraction in the area to adequate security.
The Executive Director, Administration and Finance of Barbados Lounge and Restaurant, Tessy Nwoke, gave Abuja Review an insight into what makes Ademola Adetokunbo Crescent unique.
She disclosed that the upscale clientele that patronise the various clubs in the vicinity is the reason d’être for the growing number of relaxation spots in the area.
Barbados, which now operates from the former Silver Spoon lounge, enjoys the patronage of such rich clientele.
“I think Adetokubo Ademola Crescent is a prime area because we have so many other clubs here,” Nwoke said.
She, however, said that the new owners of the defunct Silver Spoon are not perturbed about the competition occasioned by the litany of drinking and relaxation spots in and around the street.
“We have our concept which is to make this place one of the best lounges in Abuja. We chose here not because it is in the heart of Abuja and close to where the high and mighty lives. This place is meant for everybody. We are not looking at any category of persons because we don’t know who will walk here and be our best customer,” Nwoke added.
The upscale clientele that frequent the area has made it a haven of sorts, she noted, adding that the rich and powerful in Abuja like governors, ministers, directors, civil servants, private business executives and youths who have achieved a lot in their careers, find the place irresistible.
Nwoke said: “Notwithstanding, we have the kind of clientele that we want to come in here. We don’t want just anybody. But everybody is welcome. We have our rules and regulations. You come in here, sit down and have your drink. If you want to dance you dance. You have your food quietly. We don’t like people who want to come here to make noise. We want to have an upscale clientele. But that does not mean that other people can’t come. Everybody is welcome here.”
She further disclosed that the lounge is named after an Island in South America. “You know there is an Island called Barbados. And my favourite artiste is Rhianna. She is from Barbados. I like her so much. She is my model. I am also hoping that during our one year anniversary, I will fly Rhianna down to perform. This place used to be called Silver Spoon. I used to come here to have my lunch. They had good food. Sometimes I come for their jazz night,” she said.
She noted that there are a lot of youths who have made it and they are looking for somewhere to unwind. “They are also welcome,” she insisted
According to her, Barbados has adopted innovative measures to survive the intense competition put up by similar outfits in the area. “We have VIP sections where the high and mighty come when they don’t want to be noticed. We will sneak him in there.”
She added that people cannot just walk into their VIP sections. “We have codes and except we give you our code or we open the door with our cards, you can’t go in there. So, anybody that comes in here is secured. Anybody that wants privacy will get the privacy.
“We have good security. We have CCTV and well trained guards to provide security round the clock. We also have well trained and cultured bouncers.
“We have very courteous waiters and waitresses. They are always wearing smiles on their faces. Discipline is our watchword. Every customer is king here. We have different sections for everybody.
“We know we have a lot of competitions, but we have defined our own style of operation that anybody who walks in here will always want to come back. When our customers come here, they will see our beautiful ambience and many things that are different from what they will get from every other lounge that they will go to.
“We stand out because we have efficient staff, special kind of menus you don’t get anywhere else. We call it our Barbados specials. We also take care of vegetarians and people who are diabetic. We provide them special meals.
“We have devised a means that when you come in here, our staff will welcome you with smiles on their faces. Our prices are moderate. We have a restaurant where people are going to earn points. When you come in here, you earn points. When you introduce customers to us, you earn points. When your points get to a maximum level, we give you a treat at Barbados.
“Our prices are one of the best in Abuja. We are not looking at 100 per cent profit. Customers’ satisfaction is paramount,” she added.
She also said that her experience in Lagos would go a long way to make the place unique.
“I have been in business in Lagos before and then my partner has always had a dream of a lounge.
“We have so many activities lined up. It is going to be the normal clubbing lounge thing. We want to spice it up with popular artistes every quarter. Not just artistes, footballers and musicians. We are also going to have our hall of fame. This place is also a celebrity hangout. We have created a programme for our celebrities,” she concluded.
