The countdown has begun for fans of the landmark Westbrook food truck Don’s Lunch.
With a new Main Street location approved Tuesday, owner Craig Bernier, who has restored the lunch van to driving condition, plans to open in three to four weeks.
The Westbrook Planning Board voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a site plan amendment for the new location at 925 Main St., not far from its original location during the 1970s. The Don’s Lunch van was shut down in February and sold to Bernier in March. Shortly after, he announced plans to restore the 1978 GMC van.
The parcel was formerly Leclerc’s gas station, but last year, the Planning Board approved the lot to be used as a gas station and redemption center by the owners of Friendly Discount. The gas station is now up and running under the name Friendly Gas & Redemption.
While discussing the site with Planning Board members, Bernier provided new details about his plans for the business.
The truck will be parked in the back right corner of the lot, with five parking spaces in front, and three to the left. Unlike the previous location at 517 Main St., there will be no seating provided.
The hours of operation will be Monday-Thursday from 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 11 a.m.–2 a.m., and closed Sunday.
“I think everything is going to work very well,” Bernier said, adding that he’ll be cleaning up behind the property as he prepares to move in the van.
Bernier also said there is a chance he may take the van off site during off-hours to places such as the Fryeburg Fair or other events. The menu, he said Tuesday, will offer the same popular items such as “The Big One.”
At the meeting Tuesday, about a dozen people arrived to show support for Bernier, even though there is no public comment allowed on a site plan amendment. The attendees included City Council President Brendan Rielly, who said he is a longtime friend of Bernier.
Questions from planning officials ranged from drainage and parking lot vehicle mobility, to trash pickup and site beautification.
Bernier purchased the van in March from Bill and Nancy Bombard after state officials shut down the business in February for failing to pay state sales taxes. It had been operated by Jim Richards, the son of original owners Don and Yvonne Richards, since 2012. However, after the business was shut down, the truck reverted back to the Bombards.
In March, Bernier told the American Journal that he had been a “lifetime customer” of Don’s Lunch, and when he saw the van for sale, Bernier said, he “absolutely” thought the business should stay in Westbrook.
In July, Bernier posted photos to the Don’s Lunch Facebook page of the repair work, including welding, sandblasting, brake work, painting and more. Last week, Bernier notified fans of the business of the potential new location.
“I think we’re about 85 percent there,” Bernier said Tuesday about the work to restore the van.
Bernier is essentially renting the parking lot space from Friendly Gas, but said he would be doing all the upkeep and cleaning necessary to maintain the space.
Don and Yvonne Richards opened Don’s Lunch in 1976, setting up the truck at 959 Main St. When it was sold to the Bombards in 2001, the business relocated to 517 Main St.
The van will use the northeast corner of the lot, and will receive site upgrades – mainly road striping to distinguish the food truck area and lanes for the redemption center.
The Don’s Lunch van will be parked in the back, right corner of the Friendly Gas lot, roughly where the white SUV is parked in this photo. Staff photo by Andrew RiceSend questions/comments to the editors.
