By Kemi Yesufu
For the young and upwardly crowd, the countdown has begun to the much awaited re-launch of upscale entertainment and leisure centre, The Dome Abuja. The Dome after years of leading as the rendezvous for the country’s powers brokers, the nouveau riche and A-list celebrities was shut-down for re-branding and the good news is that work is almost done at the swanky multi-purpose centre.
Returning to take its place as one of the standouts in the Abuja skyline, architecturally speaking, the high class fun pace located beside the World Trade Center in the Abuja’s plush Central Business District, now comprises of the Summit Bar and Restaurant, the Wesley Snipes Lounge, The Satchmo Cigar Lounge. Retaining its family oriented culture, the new look, Dome Abuja returns with the Noni’s Pizzeria, Camelot Spa and Gym, a bowling alley and newly introduced, Francis Boutique hotel.
It is therefore didn’t come as much of a surprise, when The Dome boss, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, confirmed the talk in town, that millions of naira has been put into repositioning the entertainment center. He however declined giving a figure on the renovation cost.
General Manager of The Dome, Klaus Beckmann, while conducting Abuja Metro around the edifice, announced that providing impeccable service to clientele is topmost priority.
“With huge investments made, we now have a structure that looks like what you find in fashionable cities like New York, Japan, Paris and Johannesburg. To meet the expectations of highflying Nigerians, many of whom travel to these places, we also are investing in providing world-class service”, Beckmann said.
He chef with forty years experience in the hospitality industry further revealed that, The Dome will double its involvement in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). “Despite the fact that we will be employing about 200 people, majority of them from the youth bracket, we will seek means to expand on CSR, starting from Abuja”, he said.
Beckmann, it was who led a ten-man cast that joined Okonkwo last Saturday to host a group of friends of The Dome, to an exclusive dinner and wine-tasting event, tagged, “A Taste of Tomorrow @Dome”. Some of the guest include, the Auxiliary Bishop of the Catholic Arch-Diocese of Abuja, Bishop Anselm Umoren, Senator Ike Obiorah and Hon Chudi Offodile. Starting right on time, by the advertised 7pm, to when guests started leaving at 10pm, the cheer class on display had guests, saying Abuja’s sybarites are about to be re-introduced to what they have been missing with the fun spot’s long closure.
Decked in a pair of khaki pants and white linen shirt, Okonkwo joined his staff in ushering guests to the bar, where they were introduced to the in-house, self-imported wines and a carefully selected collection of new brands of champagne. Time at the bar was immediately followed by dinner, starting with well known favorites like pizza and later, a mixture of new recipes and a jazzing up of local dishes. The traditional pepper soup served with German dumplings, just as the well liked cat fish was served Asian style on a skewer.
After the five-course meal which went with on for two hours, just as guests glasses were refilled with champagne, wine and cognac, it was time to go. But not without Beckmann again telling folks he feted, that The Dome is primed to offer the best of luxury to its members, when it returns fully in a few weeks time.