WALDOBORO—On March 16, the doors opened for the first time for Dayboat Cafe, a new daytime neighborhood cafe and market in Waldoboro's downtown.

Two good friends, Anna Hymanson, 32, and Kelsey Woodworth, 35, took on the business venture together, offering a warm, welcoming hub for locals and visitors, serving sandwiches, soups, salads, and take-home meals to go. The retail side of the cafe offers beer and wine, Maine-made goods, and other specialty items.

The pair have varied backgrounds in food, hospitality, and business, working off each other's strengths. Hymanson, a native Mainer, trained in whole-animal butchery. She also has experience in business operations and financial management.

Woodworth graduated from the Culinary Institute of America. Originally, she went to school to study food science, but found she preferred cooking fulltime in the kitchen. From the Midwest originally, Woodworth worked as a private chef and has cooked in several restaurants in the Northeast before landing in Maine in 2009.

They met in Damariscotta and began talking about starting a food business together before deciding that Waldoboro was the town in which to get established.

With the older condition of the 17 Friendship Road building, they went to work, double-belt sanding the floors, applying polyurethane to the floors, doing much of the renovations themselves. Woodworth's husband built the 22-foot lunch counter in sections on casters, so they could move it around.

"We have a five-foot deli case we bought from some really cool fishermen in Brunswick who helped us load it up in the store," said Woodworth. "All of our equipment is essentailly used and bought from surrounding communities. So, the cafe was not only built by us but by the community around us."

The rustic interior of the cafe has a working harbor feel.

"We landed on the name, Dayboat, as an homage to the working waterfront," said Hymanson. "Waldoboro has such deep roots with clamming, fishing, worming, and people who recreate on the water as well. We really wanted it to be a space that felt open and welcome to all."

Previously, the building was home to a cabinet maker. And locals will remember that in 1997 it became Fernald's Country Store. And before that, it housed the Waldoboro Five and Dime.

"It has a great history as a meeting place and market place in downtown Waldoboro," said Woodworth.

"We have food for 'the working boys,' the guys fishing, fixing things, mowing lawns, working 12 to 18 hours a day, who don't have time to make lunch or dinner, so they often end up at gas stations to get something to eat," she said. "These guys need more options that are a little more thoughtfully prepared, and interesting for them.

"Next, our menu also focuses on the moms. Stay-at-home moms, working moms, they're busy, trying to get everything done, and want something quick and healthy. Then, for the seniors, what if someone who lives alone just wants one meatball? They don't want to buy a whole tray.

"We say this a lot: 'We want to meet you where you are in your day.' We want you to be able to afford a treat for yourself. You don't have to do all the cooking yourself. We want you to know we're a partner in your daily life."

The hearty menu features classics, such as grinders, turkey clubs, Reuben sandwiches, tuna, chicken salad, BLTs, and hot chicken parmesan subs. Vegetarian items include Cobb and kale salads, as well as grilled cheese sandwiches, and a seasonal roasted vegetable sandwich. Every day, there is a homemade soup or a clam chowder.

"We call our sandwiches 'The Great Equalizers,' because you could be a billionaire or on your last dollar—you're going to enjoy a sandwich that's hearty, wholesome, and delicious, and you'll be able to afford it," said Woodworth.

The take-out cases carry dinner items such as lasagna, and their freezer contains more take-home dinners, such as a pasta dish that can be reheated. They also have a beer and wine license, so anyone who wants a beer with his or her lunch, can enjoy it or buy a bottle to take home.

For more information visit dayboatmaine.com

Kay Stephens can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com