Popular Ella’s Cool Spot to Reopen on November 19th
It’s a popular restaurant and nightspot where tourists and locals visit in Hopkins Village for the best food and cold drinks. But in June of this year, Ella’s Cool Spot was intentionally burnt down. Though momentarily fazed by the incident, the owner regrouped and decided to muster whatever courage, and money, she had left to reconstruct the business. With help from her supporters, she is now planning on another grand reopening of one of the south’s most iconic, cultural entertainment centers, and its timing could not be more traditional than Garifuna Settlement Day. News Five’s Marion Ali reports.
Marion Ali, Reporting
The drumming will be in full swing come November nineteenth across the country, but particularly at Ella’s Cool Spot in Hopkins Village, the preparation that accompany the traditional Garifuna Settlement Day festivities are always epic. Ella Carr who owns the establishment, recounts how she got her business off the ground, and culture was a fundamental part of it.
Ella Carr
Ella Carr, Owner, Ella’s Cool Spot
“The day when I first opened Ella’s Cool Spot, that was 2015, that was on a Nineteenth of November and I opened with a small dining area with my tables out of my house, my refrigerator, my stove and we designed the area real cultural with the plantain trees, cassava, and with all the cultural food – like Hudut, Darasa, Bundiga, you know. That’s like a traditional thing for me.”
But three months ago, Ella’s Cool Spot was reduced to ashes after somebody was captured on video surveillance purposely set the place on fire in a cowardly act of arson. Although the crime significantly set her back, Ella said she decided to focus on rebuilding instead of dwelling on the loss.
Ella Carr
“What happened I put it behind, you know, and ih hurt me but with all the support and also support from my banks, BTB as well, we get support from all over, the Go Fund Me and also the community. Even from international guests and also my family members and – it was not easy to put all of this together, you know, a lot of sleepless nights.”
With a Yeoman’s effort and help from kind-hearted people who did not want to see a permanent closure of the business, Ella survived the most challenging phase in her life. Now, as she looks towards rebounding, she says that the new structure boasts better features than the previous one.
Ella Carr
“We have two bars on site, so we have the beach bar and we have the upper deck bar. We have a better gift shop and also an office area and a bigger kitchen. And bigger dining area. Now I have a better restaurant and work on our service, on our food and employ a lot of people. Right now we’re working on designing the kitchen with all the industrial material so our customers can get their food faster and better quality.”
There is also that cultural touch that sets Ella’s Cool Spot apart from the ordinary restaurant and bar.
Ella Carr
“This is a Garifuna community, you know, so we try keep everything cultural. Like our beach bar, we have the Garifuna flag, all the stuff that the Garifuna culture – that we use – we’re gonna be displaying for our customers. Then on a daily basis we do the Garifuna drumming like at dinner time, we normally have the kids from the village coming around with their drums.”
With finishing touches being finalized, Ella is now looking forward to November nineteenth – the rebirth of what was but in much grander style.
Ella Carr
“We’re gonna be open on the nineteenth of November. We’re gonna have all the cultural food. We’re gonna have Garifuna drummers, dancers so you guys can look forward for it.”
Marion Ali for News Five.
Carr said that her total investments in the new building were well over a hundred and fifty thousand dollars.
