JOIN US FOR OUR FAMOUS SUNDAY BUFFET BREAKFAST
Breakfast is THE most important meal of the day!
Come and get yours at the China Dine-ah!
 (Shown above is just a sample of some of the buffet items available!)
7 am to 11:30 am - Full Breakfast Menu and Breakfast Buffet
11:30 'til noon - Breakfast Buffet or Full lunch and dinner menu
noon to 3 pm - Full lunch and dinner menu
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V iew from the Corner Booth
Good day to all!
I write today with a heavy heart, as well as a feeling of relief.
If all goes well, I will be closing on the sale of the Dine-ah mid April to early May of this year. The new owner, Lisa Wardwell of Lisa's Restaurant in Augusta, plans to run "business as usual", while adding a lounge to the unused portion of the building in the rear. It is my understanding the lounge will have a separate entrance. She intends to keep the entire staff intact for as she stated, "I know a good thing when I see it". Hours will be extended on weekends which will create opportunities for our current staff.
I am very, very proud of our accomplishments, none of which could have been achieved without your continued and loyal support, as well as the hard work of our entire staff. Sherri, Meagan and their associates have done a fabulous job. Sherri has been with me from the beginning, managing the Front of the House, since day one. Sherri also had an integral part in the layout/design of the Dine-ah, as much as a year before we even opened. There was many a day that we played with magnets at her kitchen table, moving walls, tables, booths and chairs until we felt that we had it just right. THANK YOU SHERRI. Meagan has been the Head Chef for the past three to four years and my hat is off to her as well. THANK YOU MEAGAN.
We also have several other key employees who played a big part in making this all happen that are still with us. Ryan Cotnoir has been Meagan's assistant in the kitchen for the past three years, having started on the line two years prior to being promoted. Nancy Marston has been our "go to" line cook for all three meals for the past four to five years. I would be remiss if I did not mention Jean Johnson and Jessica Michaud who have been with us since the beginning and have been lead waitresses for Sherri for the past couple of years. I will be writing more about my staff in future newsletters. We have a great group and I am proud of each and every one of them.
Late last year, while feeling on the verge of "burning out" and having a 60th birthday right around the corner, I sat down with Sherri and Meagan to discuss my future involvement in the Dine-ah. The general feeling was that everyone would be okay under the direction of new owners, if that was what, I chose to do. After a lot of soul searching, I decided that the sale of the restaurant would be the best decision for me and my family. After six years of putting my heart and soul into this labor of love called the Dine-ah, it was time. Nights, weekends and holidays year round, on top of my other duties and responsibilities has just proven to be too much. Maybe when I was 30 or 40 years old, but not at 60. I feel like I am entering the fourth quarter of my life and at what point does one start to slow down?
Oh, and I almost forgot, I opened the China Dine-ah Too, (soon to be called "Norm's") another restaurant located in South China on the Route #3 corridor. It was my plan two years ago to market both restaurants to those travelers going back and forth to Bar Harbor without spending tens of thousands of dollars on t.v. and radio. I did not suspend the t.v. or radio ads, but I did cut back significantly. I will be retaining China Dine-ah Too ("Norm's") which is a seasonal and a much easier operation to run, not being a full service restaurant. Part of the pending deal is that I change the name from China Dine-ah Too.
I will still be able to get my daily "fix" of greeting and meeting customers, but not in such a demanding work environment. As I said, it will be seasonal and not year round, which will give me an opportunity to recharge my battery, until I eventually sell. By not selling the China Dine-ah Too ("Norm's") now, I will also be protecting Lisa so that someone does not open a year round operation at this location. I feel Lisa needs at least a year or two to get her arms around her new endeavor, and she has mentioned she would like first refusal, when I decide to sell.
I still have three or four newsletters to do so there will be plenty of time for additional thanks, both to customers, staff and suppliers. I truly feel I have had three partners through this entire process.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart,
Norm
p.s. Please feel free to ask any questions or express any concerns you may have. No one wants Lisa to do well more than I do! She has 12 years experience in the restaurant and catering business and is entering into this with her eyes wide open. Don't worry about redeeming gift cards, for I am setting the entire amount of our gift card liability in an escrow account, to ensure any gift cards purchased during my ownership will be honored.
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Want to be a March winner?
Come in Today and Enter!
1st Prize winner - $50 Dine-ah gift card
2nd Prize winner - $25 Dine-ah gift card
3rd Prize winner - $25 Dine-ah gift card
4th Prize winner - $25 Dine-ah gift card
Come in NOW to enter for a chance to win in March.
Winners will be randomly selected on March 30th.
Thank you all for entering and good luck!
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Visit our website link below for directions, menus, and other information. Click on the
"Directions/Contact" section and then click on "Contact Us" to send an e-mail.
The China Dine-ah
281 Lakeview Drive
China, ME 04358
Phone ~ 445-5700
Because we use the information you provide us from our drawings and giveaways, you might be re-entered into our e-mail list. We take every precaution to avoid this, but if it happens, look below for choices to fit your needs. If you have a comment or suggestion, you can click on the link above to e-mail us directly.
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