When Holger Eiselt opened his first café in Hamilton in 2004, he never envisioned a mini restaurant empire.

Twenty-one years later, he has opened his ninth eatery, One29, at 129 Front Street in Hamilton.

His most recent acquisition was the Palomino Restaurant, the reimagination of the former Ascots Restaurant at the Royal Palms Hotel.

“All the restaurants have just happened,” the Take Five managing director said. “People like what we do, and new opportunities have come to us.”

Months ago, the new owners of 129 Front Street approached Mr Eiselt about putting a restaurant on the ground floor.

“They thought a restaurant might make the area more attractive,” Mr Eiselt said. “The owners also felt that this side of town was underserved.”

While there are many restaurants and bars in central Hamilton, the offerings thin out on the eastern side of the City.

There was a high level of interest in One29 even before it opened.

“One29 has a big picture window on it,” Mr Eiselt said. “For weeks before we launched, people were peeking through that.”

Sometimes people would sneak in, just to make absolutely sure the place was not operating yet.

Getting the doors open took longer than Mr Eiselt expected, mainly because of staffing and immigration issues.

“Staffing in general is difficult everywhere,” he said. “Especially after Covid-19 people have moved around a little bit more.”

One29 offers a sushi bar, a Mediterranean sandwich menu, fresh breads and pastries, the group’s signature coffee, wine, European cheeses and cold cuts.

The place has a healthy leaning.

“We have always cared about what we put into the food,” Mr Eiselt said. “I have a selfish motivation for that. I want to eat the food that we sell, and I want my family and children to eat the food also. So we care about the ingredients that go into our products.”

There is indoor and outdoor seating, and also room at the sushi bar to sit.

Mr Eiselt said it could be tough to create a new restaurant concept, but he had the help of executive chef Gerry Adams.

Years ago, Mr Adams worked in a number of restaurants in Bermuda including Tucker’s Point in Hamilton Parish.

Mr Adams left the island in 2022 for three years, but returned to become executive chef at Take Five’s Palomino Restaurant, which opened this year at the Royal Palms Hotel.

The latest eatery has been busy ever since opening a week ago.

“Our main customers are the people who work upstairs at 129 Front Street,” Mr Eiselt said. “The building is actually very large. There are customers who work for Marine & Ports, people who work for Renaissance Re and also people going into the Supermart.”

One29 opened just as Take Five had to suddenly relocate its grocery and bakery, Island Pantry, when its Serpentine Road location changed hands.

Some of the pastries and breads from there are now available at One29.

However, Mr Eiselt said it is not over for Island Pantry. After The Royal Gazette ran a story last week, the company was approached by a number of people with suggestions for where they could set up shop again.

They could possibly reopen shortly.

One29 is open from 7am to 5pm at the moment but hopes to add dinner.