The Paradiso Cafe on Reid Street was officially opened on Friday by former Finance Minister Grant Gibbons. The new cafe is located in the former home of the Fourways Inn pastry shop in the Washington Mall.

The new venture is a family business, run by Ulene Furbert and her husband, certified public accountant Wayne Furbert, and his father, Calworth Furbert, vice president and general manager of Bermuda Hosts Ltd.

The cafe has been redesigned by Alexandre Gatserelia of Gatserelia Design International Inc. of Toronto and Beirut, a highly-regarded design house. The company was represented at Friday's opening, which was attended by a Canadian reporter/photographer.

"My wife has always wanted to be involved in coffee, although she's not a drinker of coffee,'' explained Mr. Furbert, the former United Bermuda Party Minister of Health & Social Services.

Mr. Furbert continued: "My business is helping others with their financial affairs, and one day, about eight months ago, my wife said to me: `You've helped other people with their businesses, now why don't you help me?'.'' The Furberts have been running Specialty Coffee Ltd., an importer and distributor, since August, 1997.

"Once we'd decided on coffee, we found the specific blends we were looking for and brought them back to Bermuda for tasting,'' Mr. Furbert recalled.

"There was also a particular coffee-making machine we required. Once we had everything in place, the hotels picked it up, and the business has gone from strength to strength.'' The Furberts heard that the Fourways pastry shop was considering closing in September, 1998. They approached the Fourways management and "came to terms''.

The lease on the space in the heart of Hamilton changed hands on November 1, and the Pardiso opened to the public 83 days later, a period which included a General Election loss for Mr. Furbert in Hamilton West, the Christmas and New Year's break and the People's Holiday of January 4.

The new cafe employs six Bermudian staff and may take on more in due course.

Mr. Furbert's father, who has been in the food and beverage industry for 35 years, said the Paradiso was an exciting project for him to be involved in.

"The new cafe features eat-in and take-away areas, coffee, pastries, pastas, sandwiches, soups ... everything but fried food, really,'' said the senior Mr. Furbert.

Before the red ribbon was cut, a brief prayer was said. Local saxophone player Shine Hayward then played a short, original composition, Paradiso .

Many of Mr. Furbert's political friends showed up to see the new business off to a flying start. The count was seven or eight former (UBP) Cabinet Ministers to one current (PLP) Minister.

In the presence of so many politicians on a Friday, Mr. Furbert subconsciously gave voice in his remarks to something many are feeling in the new Bermuda -- the sheer unfamiliarity of the change.

Mr. Furbert thanked Mrs. Winnie Ashcroft and then called on Dr. Ewart Brown to "say a few words on behalf of the Opposition''. Dr. Brown is the Minister of Transport.

A good-humoured laugh went up from all present.

Sporting a new, hip goatee, Dr. Brown congratulated the Furberts and said they were representative of "what I hope is an emerging young, black entrepreneurial class''.

Next up was former Tourism Minister David Dodwell, who said of Mr. Furbert that "we have a new Wayne in the new Bermuda''.

Mr. Dodwell recalled how a dinner conversation on Mr. Furbert's porch with a group of his political colleagues had led, over coffee, to the idea of a coffee business. "We're all here as friends,'' Mr. Dodwell explained.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons then cut the ribbon and at 4.15 p.m., the Paradiso Cafe was open for business and Mrs. Furbert began living her dream.

Coffee shop opens Sporting a new, hip goatee, Dr. Brown congratulated the Furberts and said they were representative of "what I hope is an emerging young, black entrepreneurial class''.

Next up was former Tourism Minister David Dodwell, who said of Mr. Furbert that "we have a new Wayne in the new Bermuda''.

Mr. Dodwell recalled how a dinner conversation on Mr. Furbert's porch with a group of his political colleagues had led, over coffee, to the idea of a coffee business. "We're all here as friends,'' Mr. Dodwell explained.

Shadow Finance Minister Grant Gibbons then cut the ribbon and at 4.15 p.m., the Paradiso Cafe was open for business and Mrs. Furbert began living her dream.