opening of the Jamaican Grill's first dine-in eatery. The fourth in the local West Indian food chain, it represents a real accomplishment for Mrs. Thomas, her husband Ranville, and their children. According to daughter Florence Darrell, owning such a restaurant is all her mother has ever longed for.

"This all came about because of her dream,'' said Mrs. Darrell of the Court Street facility. "She has wanted to open a West Indian restaurant ever since she was a child. It's all she has ever talked about.'' Mrs. Thomas' dreams first began unravelling with the opening of the first Jamaican Grill, on Parsons Road in 1986. "With a lot of hard work, perseverance, and God's blessing, it all grew from there,'' said Mrs. Darrell. "We think of it as a miracle shop because when they first found the place, it seemed out of her and my father's reach, but God opened the door for them.'' It was in 1994 that the family's second store opened on Ord Road; a third opened in Somerset two years later. As with the first, both mainly catered to diners wanting food to eat outside the facility. "The other restaurants have some seating capability but they're mainly take-out; there isn't much space for people to park cars and they're not really the most comfortable places for dining,'' added Mrs.

Darrell. "My mother's longterm goal was to have a sit-down restaurant serving a full-course meal. In 1988 we inquired about the possibility of using this building but we were told we couldn't get it because it was going to be turned into a nightclub. Instead, it became The Bargain Centre, and when that closed, we took over.'' Construction began on the building, which is located opposite the Spinning Wheel nightclub, in November of 1996. Before its grand opening on Sunday, the new restaurant was refitted, creating two levels where previously there was only one and enabling a seating capacity of 80. Beautifully-coloured murals depict famed Jamaican scenes and add to the restaurant's ambiance, while talented chefs offer a variety of homemade specialties such as jerk chicken; ox tails; ackee and salt fish and cow's foot. Freshly made natural juices and tantalising baked goods including the famed Jamaican fruit cake, will also be on offer. "The Jamaican Grill is pretty established,'' said Mrs.

Darrell. "The food is excellent and, of course, everything is offered at a reasonable priced. We've found that a lot of visiting entertainers and tourists come here and we've had a lot of international publicity. Our locals are, of course, are most stable customers. We're really a family business as we all play a part. Even our regulars have come to think of us as members of their extended family, calling us `mom' or `sis'. The Jamaican Grill is now open serving lunch and dinner from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays. PHOTO The Jamaican Grill family clockwise from top: Timothy Darrell, Ranville Thomas Jr., Florence Thomas, Agatha Thomas, Ranville Thomas, Shawn Thomas and Norris Thomas The new Jamaican Grill restaurant on Court Street