A new business is delivering first-class baked goods in the former home of the Somerset Bridge Post Office.

Alaina Trott, owner of the The Bridge Trading Post, on Middle Road, Sandys, next to “the world’s smallest drawbridge” is also maintaining the building’s tradition by keeping the postboxes available for rent.

She is looking to turn the site into a “community hub”, with customers able to enjoy a premium brand of coffee and homemade baked goods, and to socialise.

Mrs Trott, who had a long career in compliance decided she wanted to follow her passions in opening a dessert restaurant.

“It has always been my dream to open one, but it has finally come together thanks to the support of the community,” she said.

Mrs Trott has been baking from her home since leaving a full-time job as a compliance officer.

“My home business is called Sweet T’s Cake,” she said. “I basically sell to myself, I bake all my goods in the evenings when I leave here and bring them here at The Bridge Trading Post to sell.

“The concept of the business is to have a place where people can collect their mail, grab baked goods, coffee and socialise.

“No one who comes here ever leaves right away, they spend a while just chatting, it really is amazing.”

The motto for the business is: “Where every good morning makes a great day”.

“Most people are dealing with something when they walk inside my doors,” Ms Trott said. “I want people to feel good when they leave here.”

Locals stop by for a breakfast scone, to grab a newspaper and a coffee before work, or a sweet treat on a break.

Among Ms Trott’s favourites are the chocolate cake, which has been given the name “the milkshake chocolate cake” by one of her customers, and the maple sausage with cheddar cheese scones.

“The menu changes. You can’t come in and get cinnamon buns every day, different days I bake different things. One thing that remains consistent is the chocolate cake and the breakfast scones every day. Customers told me that they must have those two items on the list.”

Among other menu items are pineapple upside down cake, chocolate chip cookies — named “chew chocolate chip cookies” by a young customer who enjoyed them — cinnamon buns, quality tea and Joffrey’s coffee.

“Right now, we are the only people in Bermuda to sell Joffrey’s brand coffee, which is a quality brand,” she said. “Disney parks are no longer selling Starbucks coffee, they are selling Joffrey’s.”

Ms Trott bakes most of the items herself, except for the vegan-option baked goods.

“I have a young lady named Sabrina Wilkinson, whom I met one day in Lindo’s. I encouraged her to sell her items so I started to sell them here for her. I also have another young lady named Ruby James whose popcorn I sell. She has this chicken-flavoured popcorn that flies out the door,” Ms Trott said.

Mrs Trott’s connection to the home of her business runs deep. Not only did she grow up in the area, but her father has worked for the Post Office for more than 20 years and her grandmother owned a store across the street that was named the Treasure Chest.

Inside the shop, you can see historic pictures of her father working at the original post office, as well as other family members and friends.

“Ideally, I want to have all the old postmen photos hung up and anyone relevant in the community. If anyone has any, I want them to bring them along,” she added.

Ms Trott described launching her business as “a journey of faith” and said she could not have done it without great support from the community

“Tourists have been attracted to the place, and have a lot of them come in and enjoy learning about the history of Bermuda and the area,” she said. “We get a lot of tourists, but we get more locals too.”

With Cup Match right around the corner, The Bridge Trading Post wants to highlight the history. “We want old cricketers to come join us here and have conversation with the tourists explaining the history and what it’s about, so we are working on that, and also other events for the Christmas holiday.”

For more information call The Bridge Trading Post on 234-0220.