Marico Thomas, president of the Four Star Pizza chain, is taking another swing at making the company's failed restaurant on Queen Street successful.

The Four Star Cafe closed in December, a few months after getting a makeover from Mr. Thomas' original concept as ChitChat restaurant. ChitChat had opened with much fanfare in September 1996 and was itself closed down as Mr. Thomas did a rethink on how to make it profitable.

"How else do learn but by making mistakes?'' Mr. Thomas said. "When we originally opened as ChitChat the problem was that it was a new concept to Bermuda. We saw the concept was not going to be as successful as we hoped so we changed very quickly (to Four Star Cafe). With that change we realised that there were some things we would have been better taking time to analyse and revisit.'' He plans on opening the restaurant, renamed ChitChat again, in mid-June with a staff of about 25 full and part-time employees. The restaurant will combine elements of the previous two menus, and offer a limited delivery service.

"When we first opened ChitChat in September 1996 we conceived it as a sort of designer restaurant -- two beautiful floors of food and fun,'' an advertisement for the re-opened restaurant states. "Since then we have discovered that the very elements which made ChitChat such an exciting environment for food, drink and conversation, also meant that station shopping did not flow very well. During our winter time off, we've heard you. You like both menus, ChitChat's decor, and Four Star Cafe's service.'' Mr. Thomas said he believes the restaurant will work this time around as he plans on making the operation more efficient. "We need to improve our execution,'' he said.

"...My goal is to improve the quality and the enjoyment of the restaurant.'' Mr. Thomas and his father Fred Thomas reportedly spent about $2.25 million on opening the original ChitChat. A large part of the Marico Thomas said a large part of the money was spent on buying 3,000 square feet of space at the Bermudiana Arcade, and renovating it. ChitChat featured a variety of food kitchens where people could order and pick up their food. Their bill was kept on a card which each customer handed in to the cashier when leaving.

Mr. Thomas said a variety of problems plagued the restaurant including a four-month delay in opening, thereby missing the peak tourist season. While customer volume was high during the first few months, interest soon tailed off, he said.

MARICO THOMAS -- "How else do you learn but by making mistakes?''