A Hertford couple have been working all month to transform the former Water's Edge Grill on the Elizabeth City waterfront into an Italian restaurant that they hope to open sometime early next week. Andrew LeClair and his wife, Tiffany, plan to have a “soft” opening for their Paradiso restaurant just for family and friends on Tuesday. The LeClairs then plan to open the Paradiso to the general public on Tuesday, Aug. 7. 

The LeClairs entered a rent-to-own agreement with the Water’s Edge’s owners, Dr. Wayne Chin and his family, and received the keys to the building on July 1. They’ve been working ever since, sometimes to 5 a.m. in the morning, to upgrade the vacant restaurant’s equipment and decor and get the Paradiso ready to open.