Operating on just word of mouth, Island Hi Coffee and Eatery is open for business.

Owner Ian Carr said after 16 years of being in the restaurant business, he was ready to branch out on his own.

Lured to Bermuda by a job at Four Star pizza as their operations manager, Mr.

Carr, a Canadian, said he had also worked with Burger King and Pizza Hut.

In partnership with his wife Melinda, Mr. Carr revealed that the two of them will run the coffee shop on Parliament Street, on their own.

"We opened this week and offer coffee and breakfast items like muffins, bagels and croissants also a lunch of light sandwiches,'' he said.

Asked why he chose to open another coffee shop, Mr. Carr said: "Personally I like a good cup of coffee and noticed that there are very few places where you can get one.'' Specialising in Green Mountain brand coffee, Mr. Carr noted that flavoured brews were gaining popularity.

"I chose Green Mountain because it is the best quality and the company are good to work with, but flavoured coffees are really catching on, '' he said.

Sparsely furnished with six butcher block top tables and 12 stools, Mr. Carr said he would be "waiting to see how business goes'' before adding any more.

Envisioning his shop as a place where people on their way to work could stop in to grab a coffee, Mr. Carr said he felt the business was positioned well.

"We're not in the middle of town and we're not on the outside either,'' he said, "there are several businesses in this area and a nearby parking lot so people can stop in on their way to work.'' Planning a grand opening a few weeks down the road, Mr. Carr said he hadn't begun advertising at all.

"But people who have come in, have given a positive response and said they're happy for the convenience,'' he said.

Open weekdays from 7 a.m. Mr. Carr said he hadn't as yet decided on a closing time.