Launching with a big, one-day Early Bird breakfast on Nov. 1 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. and continuing regularly after Nov. 5, the Reunion Station Restaurant in Damariscotta will serve breakfast five days per week.
The one plate breakfast special will offer corned beef hash, pancakes, sausage, bacon, toast, home fries and a beverage. “It went really well last year,” said Dale Feltis, who co-owns the restaurant with his wife, Sharlene
Daily specials and the “Big Breakfast” will be included in the regular breakfast menu starting on Nov. 5. Menu item prices run about $3-4.
In years past, the restaurant has had one-day breakfast events, Feltis said. Dining room manager Jaime Sprague said that the restaurant staff has had positive responses from customers.
“Breakfast is the most affordable meal of the day,” Sprague said. “Our prices are low and we are known for our home-style cooking.”
The locals also know Reunion Station as a family style restaurant, Sprague said. It wasn’t always so. In 1971, the two rail cars and caboose were brought to the property and “The Train Wreck” biker bar came to fruition, according to Feltis.
Resting in its tracks, Reunion Station is no longer a hang-out for bikers, but attracts senior citizens and families for the home-style cuisine. Railroad memorabilia lines the walls on the inside. Old train lights hang from the ceiling, posters from railroad stations around the world hang next to local artwork and the sound of a train clock whistles and shuffles in the corner.
“We pretty much cover the spectrum,” Feltis said of the people who come to dine.
He added that younger people have been coming to the restaurant lately and they expect the breakfasts will bring in all age groups.
“Come in on a Friday night and it’s like a town meeting,” said Sharlene Feltis, adding that everyone who comes into the restaurant is special. “The locals here are like family.”
The couple is starting the breakfast menu in reaction to decreased business and the declining economy.
“Times are tough,” Dale said. “The real, main reason for having the breakfast is to keep people on staff. We’re adding another meal to avoid layoffs, to keep people working.”
