HAVING conquered the party scenes, Ian Mile s has now turned his focus on dominating the sports bar and restaurant arena with a new entity called Container Hot Spot.

Located on Duke Street, just above the defunct JAMINTEL building in Kingston, the building — which also has a carwash — is made from shipping containers, and is like an oasis in the desert.

“The couch (sofas), television frames, bar counters, the patio, even the signs are container. People are amazed by that,” said Miles. “It was a concept that I had for couple years about four years aback. My first thought was a simple car wash with a little bar and thing,” he told the Jamaica Observer, while sitting in the CIP (Container Important Person) room.

“But when I started the dream just started getting bigger and my vision started getting better. Everybody have car wash and bar; what will make my own different and stand out?

“Then the concept came about saying the Container Hot Spot, Everything in One Spot. I wanted a variety of things where a person can come and get. A man can come and get his car wash, get something to eat, get something to drink, while watching his favourite sport on one of the many big TV screens. I just want the environment to be different,” said Miles.

The unique spot has become the hangout spot and, of late, birthday dinner location. Miles noted that his staff of 15 has to be working overtime to accommodate the heavy demands, especially on a weekend.

In order to be competitive, Miles said he has to be creative.

“Being at Duke Street, we have to work twice as hard as other prime areas like New Kingston or Half-Way-Tree. So we have a lot of specials and deals. If you come and buy food from our menu, we wash your car for free,” he explained.

“Then there is the Friendship Deal. If three persons dining and two buy, the third meal is free. Cocktail Special for couples, buy one and get one free,” he added.

But for Miles, the number one special is the birthday reservation special.

“It is going hard. We give the customer a free birthday cake and a bottle of Moscato once they book the reservation.”

Container Hot Spot marketing representative, Racquel Maitland, chipped in, noting that Container Hotspot, which has been around for five months, is the venue to be.

“We have many different deals to grab the customer. It’s a chill spot after work. Rumpari Wednesdays, buy a flask of Campari and a flask of rum and you get a free chaser — and also the Appleton VX Saturdays”.

The Container Hot Spot has an indoor and outdoor bar, CIP Lounge and an outside dining area, and security is top notch, according to Miles.

“Everywhere I go people say they love this and ‘thank you’. They appreciate it. People normally feel a level of insecurity when it comes to Duke Street, and I understand the stigma because it’s downtown. You can walk go anywhere and no one can say anyone break into your car or anything like that,” Miles reiterated.

“There is social media, which is one of the biggest thing when it touch marketing and we are making use of that. Our fan base is growing on Instagram and 16,000 followers on Facebook for a five-month-old company. We are out there doing the work and putting out the ads. We have to make the customers comfortable because word of mouth is the best piece of advertisement,” he added.