FALMOUTH, Trelawny — A $25-million investment in the new Dream Catcher Café and Lounge is expected to strengthen the already mouth-watering gastronomy and lively entertainment offerings at Falmouth Artisan Village while creating a new social hub for residents and visitors to the historic town.

The café, which had its grand opening on Saturday, September 20, is being positioned by its directors as a business that will serve not only locals but tourists visiting the adjoining cruise port.

“We are happy to open our doors finally to each and every one. Do not think for a second because this is Artisan Village you are limited to just our tourists or visitors. This is for all and sundry. We welcome all locals, especially our locals,” director Shelly-Ann Fung King stressed.

She sees the café as a place to relax, work, eat and socialise.

Carol Rose Brown, director of the Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation at the Tourism Enhancement Fund, speaking during the grand opening of Dream Catcher Café and Lounge at the Falmouth Artisan Village on Saturday evening.

Fung King said the concept was developed about six months before the opening, although the partners initially questioned whether Falmouth had sufficient demand to support the investment.

“We were toying with the idea. Truth be told, at one point we were having second thoughts. We want to do this [but] it’s a risk because Falmouth is very low-key,” she said.

“We’re reaching out to our schools, we’re reaching out to our hospitals, we’re reaching out to the entire community for that level of support to let them know that there’s something cool, something exciting,” she added.

The café’s menu includes paninis, sandwiches and a range of coffee-based drinks, with plans for Sunday brunches, music, art and other activities.

The investment represents the combined commitment of three hospitality professionals whose backgrounds span customer experience, tourism attractions, destination management plus food and beverage.

Guests relaxing during Saturday evening’s grand opening of Dream Catcher Café and Lounge at the Falmouth Artisan Village.

There are ambitions to take the concept beyond Falmouth.

“This is our first, but not the only. Very soon, once this becomes successful, we’re gonna just keep going islandwide, and then who knows? Maybe throughout the Caribbean,” Fung King said.

The café has received a nod of approval from the Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF), which established the Falmouth Artisan Village as part of efforts to enhance the visitor experience in the historic town.

Carol Rose Brown, director of TEF’s Jamaica Centre for Tourism Innovation, sees the café becoming an important component of the village’s evolving gastronomy offerings.

A server displays drinks during the opening of Dream Catcher Cafe and Lounge at the Falmouth Artisan Village on Saturday. 

“We are very excited about Dream Catcher. We think that this café is a critical part of what the Artisan Village has to offer,” she said.

She hopes Dream Catcher will develop into a meeting place comparable in function to established cafés in Kingston, attracting people who want to work, socialise and enjoy food and beverages.

Brown also sought to correct the perception that access to the Artisan Village is restricted to tourists or cruise passengers. Although the village is located within the secure Falmouth port complex, she said members of the public can enter through Gate Five and use the facility.

“Anybody can walk in, park in our parking spaces and come in and enjoy — whether it’s the food, the experiences, or the shopping,” Brown said.

She pointed to some of the activities already available at the village, including rum tastings and blending experiences, candle making and body oil production.

“We and the artisans really pride ourselves on being about experiences. And gastronomy experiences is one of the things we feature,” she said.

Brown described the venture as “a boon for Falmouth” and the tourism industry, expressing hope that it will help establish a distinctive new gathering place for western Jamaica.

The Falmouth Artisan Village was officially opened by Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness on April 19, 2024, following its soft opening a month earlier.

With the addition of Dream Catcher, the facility is seeking to deepen its appeal as a destination combining tourism, local commerce, gastronomy and community activity.