#6: Jamaican Business Mogul Gary Matalon on Travel, Networking and Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records

Gary Matalon is an innovator and trend-setter in his field, he has made a name for himself as a business mogul that is eager to take on new adventures and revolutionize the way business is done in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. His greatest moments throughout the years have ranged from founding successful businesses and starting his family. In 2008, Gary co-founded the Kingston Live Entertainment Group (KLE Group), with his wife, Tina and a group of business partners. As Director and CEO of the KLE Group, Gary is responsible for the development of premium lifestyle and entertainment establishments, such as Fiction Lounge and Famous Nightclub, restaurants, namely Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records and more recently luxury real estate - BESSA. Under his direction, the group manages the flagship Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records restaurant in Kingston, with two others under franchise agreement in Ocho Rios and Montego Bay. The first international Usain Bolt’s Tracks & Records restaurant opened in London in November 2018. This is the first of 15 slated for the UK to be rolled out over the next 10 years as a part of a Multi-Unit Development Agreement with a large restaurant group. Gary is also the Director for FRANJAM, a franchise company that was founded to own, develop and license Jamaican themed restaurants. FRANJAM creates opportunities for investors by way of buying into the Jamaican franchise concept In 2017, Gary signed an intellectual property deal with Downsound Entertainment to launch the Sumfest Acoustic Cafe franchise concept - a fast-casual restaurant and bar, offering a 360-degree Jamaican experience – atmosphere, taste, music and vibes. A family man first, however, Matalon will claim some of his greatest successes to be the persons around his dining table. He is the proud father of three children, Sydney, Jacob and Haley and the husband of Tina Matalon, his partner in work and life. Gary and I had a great wide-ranging chat about his passion for Jamaica, business, sport, music, building relationships and much more. Be sure to check out Usain Bolt's Tracks & Records: www.tracksandrecords.com Show Notes: http://www.abidimam.com/garymatalon