Hamilton is to get a new “trendy” retail store for men and women on Reid Street - but the identity of the brand to be sold is being kept tightly under wraps.

The Hornburg Calypso group is opening up the latest in its chain of shops at the site of the former Yankee Store and hopes to be open before December for the Christmas rush.

The store has been completely gutted and the basement lowered by four feet to allow a larger gentlemen's clothing area in the basement.

“We are very excited about the new shop,” said Pierre Dutoya, general manager of the chain. “We cannot tell you what it is yet - but we will let everyone know very soon. We hope that we can give the Bermuda public what they want.”

Mr. Dutoya, who has been at the helm of the company for the past 11 years, said he will release the name of the store either later this week or at the beginning of next week.

The work is already several months behind schedule, said Mr. Dutoya, after delays for planning permission to revamp the site and Hurricane Fabian.

The group started work on the store in May, but work had to stop for a couple of months while Planning worked on consents. Since then a crew of workmen have been hard at it trying to get the store ready before Christmas.

“Our target is between November 15 and December 1,” said Mr. Dutoya. “But it is looking like being more towards the end of November now.”

Mr. Dutoya said that during the extensive work, workmen had come across an ancient well deep in the foundations of the building plus a beam which would have been above the pit to allow water to be drawn.

“In a building this old you do not know what you will find. We have had to do all kinds of work we did not anticipate,” he added.

He said that the new manager was currently in Europe receiving training for the store and it would employ between three and six people depending on the season.

“It is going to be a trendy shop for both men and women,” said Mr. Dutoya. “The stock will arrive soon and it will be a race to get it finished in time, but we will do our best.”

The Hornburg Calypso group last year opened the high-end Italian designer store Max Mara on Front Street. The chain of stores also owns and runs Calypso, Voila and Benetton in Hamilton as well as branches across the Island.

Hornburg Calypso Ltd. has been in business for over 50 years and is owned by John and Polly Hornburg. Mr. Dutoya is married to Mr. and Mrs. Hornburg's daughter, Suzannah, a buyer at Hornburg Calypso.