Club MECA is arguably the hottest nightclub in Kingston, but if the owner is being completely honest, its success came as a sweet surprise.

According to Michael Dawson, MECA, which actually means Marketplace Entertainment Centre for the Arts, was supposed to be a multipurpose venue for theatre, concerts, comedy shows and occasional weekend events. Today, however, the booming nightclub is a hot spot for celebrities both locally and internationally.

“I am the CEO of the US Tour Management Company for veteran comedian Oliver Samuels and, for over a decade, I have managed to come across a number of multipurpose venues that could host from a church gathering to an exclusive Grammy party, and I think Jamaica needed one of those. I didn’t expect the venue to become what it has… I just wanted a safe space where entertainment events could go on beyond the 2:00 am [cut-off] marker,” said Dawson.

Dawson, who operated House of Dancehall on Cargill Avenue some years ago, said with a professional background in telecommunications he had the opportunity to travel the world and experience nightlife in various cities.

He said with Jamaica being the cultural ‘meca’ that it is, it was only fitting the island had a space that would ultimately become the go-to spot for tourists and locals alike.

“I got to experience the culture of cities such as Las Vegas, New York, London, and Paris through the nightclub scene, and it was a time. I wanted to bring that same kind of international vibe to Kingston because Jamaica is not just the entertainment capital of the Caribbean but also a huge attraction for tourists,” he said.

And since it became fully operational in 2020, MECA has done exactly that. The nightclub has hosted some of the hottest international stars to vacation in Jamaica. From Cardi B and Offset, from Chris Brown and Trey Songz to popular streamer Kai Cenat, a trip to Jamaica is simply not complete anymore without a night of partying inside MECA.

“I think MECA has become part of the Jamaican culture, a must-see and must-visit. Celebrities come to Jamaica for the jerk, Red Stripe, beaches, and now, MECA. You just can’t be relevant in the entertainment space internationally and not visit MECA. People literally fly in on Friday night, come straight to us, party Saturday and then leave straight from Dolly Sundays to the airport,” he said.

MECA, which operates at the same spot as the once-popular Fiction Night Lounge and is now home to some of some of the hottest events in Jamaica, including Dolly Sundays, Stirsdays and Champagne Saturdays.

Dawson believes his winning formula includes operating on integrity and humility.

“We run our business on some core principles which guide us daily and are not often affiliated when it comes on to the entertainment business. We believe in honesty, integrity, Garvey-ism, and humility. We never take our success for granted; we pay our bills and remain fair to all who we work with. We feel those qualities are underrated in the entertainment business and truly, that is what has separated us over these past few years,” he said.

In addition to those core principles, Dawson said MECA’s success is co-related to its ability to remain authentically dancehall, revealing that he has turned down sponsorship from corporate companies with deep pockets to remain true to its core audience.

“We have said no to sponsors and potential partners who are well funded but want us to change the dancehall theme to let’s say, something more ‘attractive’ to corporate Jamaica. But we have to keep it real for our patrons and so, our ability to call our own shots without sponsors or investors dictating to us allows us the flexibility to keep refreshing.”

But upgrading does not mean MECA will be expanding to other parishes across Jamaica. Dawson said he and his team have found a formula that works and attracts persons from the other 13 parishes and so, at least for now, Kingston is MECA’s hub.

Still, the club has taken its success to international shores. Its popular Dolly Sundays event has had stagings in New York, Toronto and Miami.

“Many of our weekend patrons drive in from as far as Westmoreland, so I think it’s Marketplace Kingston for now. However, our focus is global. We have done MECA nights in NYC, Toronto, Miami (MECA Weekend) and have upcoming dates in London and close to being a part of a major event in Vegas. As far as a physical second location goes, the closest we have come to a deal is Lagos, Nigeria. A complimentary investment in another business in Ecuador puts that country on our radar too, but, for now, we will keep investing in our Kingston location.”

Dawson added that he continues to always offer a quality experience to all patrons.

“I don’t want it to seem like we’re tooting our own horn, because truth is, we have a lot of great options for nightlife in Kingston, so I just want to make that clear. We have some great relaxing lounges and chill spots, but at this point, we are the only true nightclub. Many of the good spots are lounges or restaurant that play music, we are a real nightclub.” he charged.