AFTER being closed for 10 years, the building that housed the once-popular Cactus Nightclub in Portmore, St Catherine, is set to be reopened later this month under the name REV.

The venture is being undertaken by a group of three young people — Sean Lyn, Marsha Rose and Robert Edwards — who gathered experience working for Nite Time Promotions, the company owned by Chris Cargill and Brian ‘Ribbie’ Chung which operated Cactus during its heyday.

Nite Time also operated Asylum — now known as The Building — on Knutsford Boulevard in New Kingston for many years, and the popular Quad Nightclub on Trinidad Terrace, also in New Kingston.

According to Sean Lyn, one of the principals of Selective Promotions — the company behind the new venture — the reason for opening the club is to bring a new era of nightlife to Portmore and its neighbouring communities.

“Cactus Nightclub was a legend throughout its time of operation and as such we would like to reintroduce this legend to the new generation and ring in a new era of nightlife to Portmore,” Lyn told Splash.

Lyn declined to state the size of the group’s investment, offering only that “it was sizeable”.

Asked what was the thinking behind the name, Lyn said: “We wanted a name that was memorable and something that could market very well. We thought about Revolution and then the name REV came up, which is basically a small Jamaican slang. We wanted a name that would stand out.”

Cactus opened in 1993 to much fanfare and played host to a number of album launches, concerts, functions, and promotions that were well supported by the Portmore community.

However, after a few years, patronage began to dwindle.

Lyn said that REV will be bringing something different to nightlife in Portmore. “We will be bringing undiluted indoor nightclubbing experience, VIP areas, VIP service by trained staff and a stage area which is possibly one of the best in any of Jamaica’s nightclubs, as well as ample security and parking,” Lyn said. “This venue is optimal for entertaining because of its size and central location.”

Lyn is confident that the team has the formula to make REV a success. “We are coming with the combined experience of a team which has worked in the entertainment business and with successful nightclubs,” he said. “We have collectively acquired valuable insights as to the key ingredients of a successful club, which we plan to apply to Portmore and to ensure this new club’s success and longevity.”

REV Nightclub will be opened Thursdays to Sundays and will offer various theme nights as well as live entertainment.