A decade ago, Bryanne Tucy served coffee at Onset's Cup of the Bay. This month, she's been tirelessly reviving the West Central Avenue location that used to house the popular coffee shop, and is gearing up to open the Victorian Cafe.

Tucy began toying with the idea of renting the space as soon as it went up for rent last fall, she said. The space has sat dormant since then.

"The building just has something about it," Tucy explained. "It's meant to be open. It's meant to be a coffee shop, nothing else."

An experienced barista, Tucy previously owned Coffee Express on Depot Street.

"I've been in the restaurant business my whole life," Tucy said, adding that she is grateful for her parents, who showed her the ropes. "They are hard-working people. They taught me everything I know."

Though she had to close the doors of Coffee Express after a short time, Tucy said she's learned lessons from her years of experience in food service, and is putting all her energy into making the Victorian Cafe a success.

Her mother came up with the name, and Tucy ran with it. She has renovated the space from the ground up, from painting the walls to building a new bar.

"It will be a sight to see," Tucy said. "In due time, every speck of that building will be Victorian." (Including the toilets and sinks!)

In addition to coffee and cappuccino, the menu will include breakfast sandwiches with real eggs, lunch sandwiches, fresh clam chowder, and lobster bisque. Tucy even has a special signature sandwich, but you'll have to wait until she opens to find out what it is!

The cafe will eventually feature Tucy's own baked goods and sandwich breads. "As soon as I can get an oven in there, I'm going to put a bakery in there," she said.

And she wants to hear menu ideas from cafe-goers once she opens. "Anything that I don't have, I'd love for people to tell me about," she said. "Give me a chance, I'll get it in there!"

Now, after a few unanticipated delays due to remodeling, Tucy is gearing up to open this Sunday, October 17, at 7 a.m.

"Come heck or high water, if I have to pour water in the coffee machine, I will make it go," Tucy exclaimed. "I'm super-excited. I really can't wait to open so I can take a breath!"

The Victorian Cafe, located at 3 West Central Ave. in Onset, will be open from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sundays.

Tucy is still looking to hire experienced baristas (mother's hours welcomed). Call 774-678-0477 or e-mail bryanne@victoriancafe.comcastbiz.net for more information.