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Just learnt of the passing of a friend who I did not see in some time, Renee Carpen.

He was the owner of The Benab, one of the first Guyanese night club in Queens NY. I came to this country in 1987 and Benab was the place to be at.

Renee was always friendly and hospitable, he was also a  devoted son to his late parents and very supportive of his extended family. He was a successful businessman and always gave back to our community.

I heard he suffered from lung cancer that eventually caused his death.a Back in the days, all the clubs allowed smoking and they had little or no ventilation. I guess he  became a victim from his own business.

Renee and I had some great time together when we were young and in the club days.

Rest in Peace my brother and friend!

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Chief posted:

Just learnt of the passing of a friend who I did not see in some time, Renee Carpen.

He was the owner of The Benab, one of the first Guyanese night club in Queens NY. I came to this country in 1987 and Benab was the place to be at.

Renee was always friendly and hospitable, he was also a  devoted son to his late parents and very supportive of his extended family. He was a successful businessman and always gave back to our community.

I heard he suffered from lung cancer that eventually caused his death.a Back in the days, all the clubs allowed smoking and they had little or no ventilation. I guess he  became a victim from his own business.

Renee and I had some great time together when we were young and in the club days.

Rest in Peace my brother and friend!

A True Pioneer. RIP. Any connection to Carpen's Plumbing on Jamaica Avenue?

GTAngler
Abu Jihad posted:

I remembered him from school days plus they lived not too far away.  

Dem was some good small days.

I thought that he died form a heart attack.

He is Churchill relative.

RIP 

Yes we first cousins . He died from a form of lung cancer .....

Another cousin passed on about a month ago because of a heart attack. He was Chandradath Carpen the son of Vernon Carpen , a New Amsterdam business owner .

FM
Billy Ram Balgobin posted:

The first time i went to the Benab I was denied entry because I was wearing Jeans.  Back then Dem Berbicians did not hesitate to dress in suit and blazers to go to clubs  

My condolences to his family.

 

We started the Benab on Old Years' nite in 1983. One of the goals was to offer the Guyanese community a place of family entertainment . The dress code was very strict. In later years the name was changed to the Savannah.

FM
Chief posted:

It was a Berbice an that started the first Guyanese club in NY.

Berbicians are pace setters!

Druggie we probably crossed paths because I was a regular at the Benab.

There was a Guyanese dance hall in 1981 which was called the Hillside Casino. It was very popular at first but was unable to command the loyality of the Guyanese party goers.

FM

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