have called it quits, just a few months after opening and the 25 employees have been offered jobs at the highly successful sister company, Four Star Pizza.

Restaurateurs Thomas United Co. Ltd. opened Chit Chat restaurant at 27 Queen Street in September 1996, but closed it down this summer because it was not profitable.

They switched the concept and opened Four Star Cafe, but Marico Thomas, conceded yesterday that he has also been unable to make it a viable enterprise.

The company closed its doors on Friday evening and will now re-think the space utilisation of the city premises over the next two months.

Mr. Thomas said, "We were operating at a loss. We're taking the opportunity during January and February to review the situation and revisit the location to determine which concept is the best for it. No one in the restaurant industry right now is jumping up and down saying they have had a bumper year.

"We should do everything possible to try to accommodate the people that we had working in the restaurant. So they've all been offered positions inside Four Star Pizza.

"Four Star Pizza is extremely busy. We've actually taken some of the things we've learned from Chit Chat and Four Star Cafe and incorporated them into our Warwick location.'' Thomas United has commercial ownership of the Queen Street space on a 999-year commercial condominium lease. The company operates five restaurants around the Island.

Mr. Thomas said, "We've actually had offers from others who want to run the business as a restaurant. We have to consider that.''