It’s been a little over 100 days since Deidrick Miller welcomed his first paying customers to Marina Palms’ new location on Montego Bay’s Howard Cooke Boulevard. A vital part of a broader vision to transform the city’s waterfront and harness untapped potential, it’s also an impressive place to dine as you feast your eyes on breathtaking sea views.

Business has been brisk at Marina Palms and, when nudged, Miller reels off a list of well-known names who have dined there so far. Among them NCB Financial Group Chairman Michael Lee-Chin; former international cricketer Christopher Gayle; and Prime Minister Dr Andrew Holness.

The prime minister was positive in his assessment of the venue, holding it up as an example of Jamaicans investing in Jamaica.

“It’s always good to see investment diversifying the [tourism] product. But, more than that, it is investment that is bringing in new infrastructure, modern infrastructure. There is a view that tourism is…the use of your natural assets. But today’s…tourists also want to see seamless and modern facilities and infrastructure for convenience
— and convenience is a large part of the tourism product. What we have here, I can see the vision: very modern, minimalist, well designed,” said Holness in a recent post on his Instagram page.

Miller told the Jamaica Observer’s Real Estate on the Rock that his team was buoyed by the prime minister’s vote of confidence.

“The prime minister toured the property and expressed his pleasure with what he saw, as well as the plans we shared for its continued development. That response has been encouraging for our team. It reinforces our confidence in what we are building and motivates us to keep improving as we introduce Marina Palms to a wider national and international audience,” said the businessman.

Marina Palms operated out of Montego Bay’s Yacht Club for five years before moving to its current spot closer to the centre of the city.

Marina Palms fits snugly into his portfolio of two other business ventures, Jetcar Ja and KnotStressin
— both water-based activities. Jetcar Ja offers high-speed rides in watercraft moulded in the shape of luxury vehicles, creating an image of skimming the waters in a Corvette, for example. These ‘car’ rides are also available through KnotStressin, which offers private boat cruises, yacht rentals, fishing excursions, tubing, and clear kayak shoots.

Miler explained the synergies between the three enterprises.

“Marina Palms provides the dining and social setting, KnotStressin offers yacht charters and excursions, and Jetcar Ja adds a different kind of adventure on the water,” he said.

“The opportunity is to make those experiences work together. A guest could enjoy a yacht cruise or Jetcar experience and then return to Marina Palms for dinner and cocktails. We can also develop coordinated packages for birthdays, corporate groups, and other celebrations. Together, the three businesses allow us to offer a more complete experience of Montego Bay, with dining, entertainment, and activities on the water complementing one another,” he added.

For now, Marina Palms is focused on al fresco dining, but indoor options should be available in a few months.

For now, Marina Palms is focused on al fresco dining but indoor options should be available in a few months..

“Our initial focus has been establishing the restaurant, bar, and waterfront dining areas, alongside the facilities needed to support daily operations. We plan to make indoor dining options available by the end of 2026, giving guests more choice and comfort when visiting us,” said Miller.

Though Marina Palms is impressive, it is just one component of a larger 20,000-square-foot multi-phase project that hinges on Montego Bay’s waterfront living up to its potential.

“The next phases will also include a sky deck designed to host private functions, offering an elevated waterfront setting for celebrations, corporate events, and other special occasions. We are also exploring additional restaurant concepts and complementary experiences to bring more variety to the property. Each addition should offer something distinct while fitting the overall atmosphere and standard we are building. We will share further details and opening timelines as plans are finalised. Our focus is on expanding thoughtfully while continuing to deliver the experience our customers expect,” explained Miller.

“The bigger vision is to create a waterfront destination where people can dine, socialise, celebrate, and enjoy experiences at sea. People can also visit us by boat for lunch or dinner, making Marina Palms a connection between hospitality on land and life on the water. In the future, we plan to welcome stopover vessels, giving visiting boaters an opportunity to experience our hospitality and explore Montego Bay. We see potential for the property to become a recognised stop for people travelling along Jamaica’s coastline. Montego Bay has a beautiful waterfront, and I believe there is room for more thoughtfully developed spaces that allow people to enjoy it. We want to contribute through an attractive property, good hospitality, employment and opportunities for local suppliers and service providers,” he continued.

For Miller, locals are a vital part of what he is building. They make up his entire team and he wants to keep welcoming locals as guests, alongside visitors to Jamaica’s shores.

“We want Marina Palms to be somewhere residents are proud to bring their families and friends, while giving visitors another compelling reason to spend time in Montego Bay,” he stressed.

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He is building on substantial goodwill banked over the five years he operated from his original location in Montego Freeport. With that rented space hit by Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, Miller was forced to speed up his plans to move closer to the heart of the city.

“There has already been a substantial investment in preparing the property
— construction, equipment and getting the business operational. Rebuilding after the hurricane has added another dimension to that commitment. I would prefer to keep the precise investment figures private at this stage. The final cost will depend on the scope of the remaining phases, which we are still refining. We are approaching this as a long-term investment and intend to develop the property responsibly, with each phase supporting the overall vision,” he said.

Miller may be holding his cards close to his chest, but he clearly has big plans.

“Marina Palms has already become a place where people come for good food, warm hospitality, and memorable moments by the water. We are proud of that, and grateful to our customers, team, and partners who have helped us build it. Our ambition now is to grow that recognition nationally and internationally. We want people across Jamaica to see Marina Palms as a reason to visit Montego Bay and for travellers abroad to include us in their plans before they even arrive,” he told the
Sunday Observer.

“As we expand, we want to preserve the personal touch and Jamaican character that have brought people through our doors. We have worked hard to get here, and we see tremendous potential in what comes next,” said Miller.