Metcalf’s Submarine Sandwiches, just off Main Street in Damariscotta, features freshly made submarine sandwiches, paninis, homemade soups and delicious desserts. The shop re-opened last week with a new name but with many of the same friendly faces and menu items.
Erica Davis, owner, had dreams of opening her own restaurant for years. Her restaurant experience began in high school at the Cheechako Restaurant, where she worked until it closed in the late 1980s.
There she was trained to bake by owner Tom Aldrich. After the restaurant closed, Davis moved on to work at Coveside, where she met her husband, Alan Davis. Through college, Davis used her baking skills, baking bread for an on campus café at UMO and worked for several restaurants and catering services.
After graduating, she went on to a teaching career in Massachusetts, but enjoyed cooking and baking so much, she took several classes at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island.
In 2007, she began planning for a restaurant of some kind. “I have a love for baking, but knew I could never be up early enough to start a bakery!”
With two young children, opening a full service restaurant, serving dinners and demanding late night hours seemed un-realistic as well. By the spring of 2008, the current space became available for rent and Davis began making plans to renovate the space with her husband and several local contractors. She brought in a business partner and they had the shop up and running by late July 2008. This spring, after almost two years, Davis bought out her business partner and became sole owner of the sub shop.
The shop originally opened in 1982 under the name Zecchino’s. Patrons will find the same menu as for the past two years. In fact, the basic menu has been the same for almost 28 years, through at least six owners. It features the classic submarine sandwiches originating in delis throughout New York and New Jersey.
Each owner has put their own twist on the menu, but the basic subs have remained almost unchanged and many patrons order their favorite “number” every time they come in.
So, what is new under the Metcalf’s name?
Not too much – but they put chicken salad back on the menu and added a “classic” Maine-style Italian for those craving their pickles and olives.
The Metcalf name comes from the building’s locale. The shop is located in The Old Metcalf Livery Stable, and dates back to the turn of the last century. Davis will be including some historical photographs in the shop and on the website, in addition to some interesting stories about the history of the building. “I guess you can’t take the teacher out of me,” she said, laughing.
“Come in and try on of our famous subs, homemade soups or grilled paninis, and save room for dessert. You can find us just off the municipal parking lot in down town Damariscotta, over looking the river,” said Davis.
Metcalf’s hours are Mon.-Fri., 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and closed on Sunday. Call 563-SUBS (7827) and find more information by visiting www.metcalfsubs.com.
