SUMFEST-THEMED CAFE’ LAUNCHED, THE OWNERS ARE NOW EXPLORING PERMANENT LOCATIONS!

The first two nights of the 25th staging of Reggae Sumfest featured the Pop-Up launch of the newest franchise concept from FRANJAM and the KLE Group, Sumfest Acoustic Café.

Patrons attending last weekend’s Reggae Sumfest got a first look into this new fast-casual restaurant and bar, offering a 360-degree Jamaican experience – taste, flavors, music and vibes.

“The past year has been spent creating a new Jamaican-themed restaurant concept that would not only embrace the latest trends in the restaurant industry but would also create an experience customers would not soon forget, said FRANJAM’s Managing Director Gary Matalon

The Pop-Up was a replica of what patrons can expect at the permanent locations, which included the overall look and feel and a subset of the full menu.

At Sumfest Acoustic Cafés patrons can look forward to natural, healthy ingredients used to create the delicious menu offerings crafted by Jamaican entrepreneur and health and fitness expert Kamila McDonald.

Currently, the group is exploring options in and around Montego Bay and Kingston for the ideal spot for the first corporate store location in Jamaica.

“We are optimistic this will progress quickly and the first unit opened in short order” said Matalon.

While creating every aspect of this concept, development of the franchise system has been taking place simultaneously. Similar to the franchising model of Usain Bolt’s Tracks and Records, Sumfest Acoustic Cafe comes equipped with world-class documentation and training programs developed to guide and support its growth through franchising.

“The legal documentation required to franchise in the United States will be ready by the first quarter of 2018, so the immediate focus is on the Caribbean and parts of Europe whose laws we are already in compliance with,” says Matalon. Franchisees who may not have the bandwidth or finances facilitate building a Tracks & Records may be ideal candidates to own a Sumfest Acoustic Cafe.

FRANJAM has also entered into an agreement with Downsound Entertainment, to have high quality footage of performances from the past 25 years of Reggae Sumfest at the café.

“This includes performances from some of the greatest Reggae, Dancehall, R&B and Pop artists of all time. This footage will serve as the soundtrack for the restaurant enhancing the authentic Jamaican experience” said Matalon.