The boys from the south who ran the Lighthouse Lobster Shack at the Heritage Village in Wiscasset are at it again.

Robert Harris and Mark Suarez took over management of the Miss Wiscasset Diner on Nov. 4.

Since its inception in 1960, the Miss Wiscasset Diner has been through lots of changes in management. Most recently it was run by Heather Pitcher, who decided to relinquish management to focus on her antique business down the road.

Suarez, from Pensacola, Florida, and Harris, from Pasagoula, Mississippi. have both spent a fair amount of time in Maine, but until opening their restaurant at the Heritage Village in May, they had had virtually no restaurant experience.

The two were working as pipe fitters at Washburn & Doughty Shipyard in East Boothbay when they were introduced through a friend of Harris.

They soon discovered that they shared a dream — to open a restaurant somewhere in Midcoast Maine.

“We knew we wanted a change,” Harris said, “and when this place (the Lighthouse Lobster Shack) came open we talked about it for a few months, then jumped on it.”

That dream worked out so well for the summer they decided to jump in feet first with a restaurant that will remain open year-round.

“We've traveled all over. I've worked in every state you could work in in the U.S. and overseas,” Harris said. “And we ate ate diners. I've eaten at a lot of diners and I know diners. Mark and I want this to be a good old-time diner. Everything that comes out of the kitchen is real, not processed or frozen.”

Harris said he loves Moody's in Waldoboro, which has been in business since the 1920s.

“And they still do a whopping business, because they have good food.”

He said he wants to establish a reputation like Moody's.

“If we can do that and keep the people coming, that's what we're looking for. People heading up the coast will say, hey there's that great place on Route 1 in Wiscasset. Let’s stop there.”

The diner is serving breakfast and lunch — anytime you want it.

“At 6 in the morning, when we open up, you can walk in here and order a haddock basket,” Harris said. “Guys who are out plowing till two a.m. may have already have had breakfast. If a guy comes in at six in the morning and wants a hamburger, he'll get a hamburger. That's a diner.”

Haddock basket, cheeseburger, chili, whatever is on the lunch menu, you can get at any hour. And the same goes for late risers. Breakfast is available whenever you want it.

Suarez and Harris have done some updating to the kitchen and said they will keep adding to the menu, depending on what the customers want.

Bob, Elaine and Jimmy Reed were having breakfast on Dec. 12. Suarez said they are frequent visitors.

As they were leaving Harris talked to them like they were old friends.

“Thanks Bob. Jimmy, keep him in line. We'll see you guys when you come back.”

When previous proprietor Bob Rogers bought the diner in 1973, it was a popular spot.

“This was the place to be,” Suarez said. With so many different managers over the years, business has fallen off some.

But Harris said that's changing. “Now that we've made a lot of changes, we're starting to get some of the customers who used to come here coming back.”

There is a new sign in the making that should be up around Christmas. And there are plans to set up an outside lobster bake next to the building next summer, like the one they had at the Lighthouse Lobster Shack.

Kelly Cody, Suarez's fiance, who helps out when needed, was waiting on tables on Dec. 12. Amidst the clatter of plates and murmur of conversation, she sees another customer coming through the door.

“Good morning. Coffee?” she asks as soon as the man is seated. “How are you this morning? Do you take cream?” This is a warm, friendly joint.

The Miss Wiscasset Diner, located at 762 Bath Road (Route 1), is open seven days a week, from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 207-687-8089.