It will not pass as a five star dining restaurant with chefs with white hats known as toque and white gloved waiters and waitresses, but it sure passes as the ideal place for Saint Lucians and visitors alike to unwind, recover from a hard day’s work, a chill out spot second to none which will leave patrons wanting to return.
And it is not only the location, with nearby parking, which makes it a memorable place to visit over and over again. It is the creativity of the place, which grabs the first time visitor as he/she enters.
To understand the endless amount of creativity on display at the location, one needs to go back to a time when the location of this super chill out spot was not what it is today.
Located in Almondale, Union, quarter of Castries, the ‘Almondale Cove – Chill Out Spot’, as the place is now known, first housed on its grounds the residence of a man and his family whose last name was Skeete. He was a businessman, husband and father.
Since Skeete’s passing, the place became unused. The pristine residence with its plants, trees and shrubs fell into disrepair. Enter two men, namely Carlton Ishmael and Davis Charles, both with different backgrounds but with one purpose – to make their vision, the ‘Almondale Cove – Chill Out Spot’, the very best in relaxing comfort for Saint Lucians and visitors alike.
Knowing such a goal would take hustle, thick skin and loads of creativity, the duo began asking themselves certain questions like: How can we make this chill out spot stand out? How can we make people excited about the Almondale Cove?
They found the answers to their questions in their backgrounds. Charles is a tech-savvy guy therefore it was not a problem at all for him to set up the lighting, music and karaoke and other tech-related things needed to give Almondale Cove the type of ambience envisioned.
Ishmael, who is the creative element behind the business due in part to his vast knowledge gleaned as a member of the performing arts in Saint Lucia, knew exactly what to do to make people say “wow” on entering the place for the first time.
The two men put their skills to work and created Almondale Cove – Chill Out Spot from the ground up. Today, this chill out spot is becoming a transformative landmark for the Almondale, Union Community.
It is a stone’s throw from where the Union Mini Zoo, now known as the Union Nature Center is located. It is on the same side of the road where The Children’s Montessori House pre-school is located.
Almondale Cove – Chill Out Spot is already making itself known as a caring friend to the neighbourhood, this week presenting to the pre-school a basket load of items manufactured to fight the coronavirus.
“We not only want to be seen as a place where persons can relax in comfort, but a place in which the community will be proud of,” Ishmael said.
Almondale Cove –Chill Out Spot is still transforming as Charles and Ishmael continue to add more and more creative ideas to the place and extends its reach into the community and beyond.
There is an entertainment aspect to Almondale Cove that only Ishmael can create due to his background as a musician and performing artiste. A visit to the place is a must, as one can be easily surprised with not only what’s on the meals menu but what’s on the entertainment menu as well.