Jane (Douty) Davis ’74 and her luncheonette legacy
“Anybody can make a hamburger,” says Jane (Douty) Davis ’74, owner of the iconic Brunswick Diner in Brunswick, Maine. “But what really makes it taste great is being kind to the people who walk in the front door.” Her customers clearly agree. On a recent visit, the booths were packed with a mix of regulars and college students from nearby Bowdoin College. Being a frequent visitor, in fact, has its perks—or perhaps “percs:” customers can join the Mug Club, a fun program where regulars bring their own coffee mug and use it when they visit the diner; around the holidays, they may find a surprise gift card inside. Mugs new and old hang from hooks lining the diner walls, and the World Famous One More Time Wurlitzer Jukebox glitters in the corner, showing off its chrome.
Jane and her daughter, Cassidy King, who now manages the diner, make it look easy, but it didn’t start out that way. Originally from New Jersey, Jane came to Williston for her junior and senior years of high school, and studied at the Art Institutes of Boston and Portland after graduating. She eventually met her husband while on business in New York, and the family moved to California, where Jane worked in several national sales positions and had a daughter, Cassidy. After moving to Maine, Jane and her husband divorced in 1998, which led Jane to the realization that her travel-heavy job would no longer work for her as a newly single mom. Enter the Brunswick Diner, a bright-red club car diner that had been a fixture in the area since 1946, but that had been closed due to bankruptcy.
No wonder Jane and Cassidy are all smiles: the good vibes abound at the Brunswick Diner, as does great music: Guests can queue up their favorite oldies right from their tables while enjoying specialties like the Sinatra, a beef brisket hash.
“It wasn’t my dream to be a restaurant owner,” Jane admitted. “I was one of the worst waitresses in the world when I was young.” But in the diner, Jane saw an opportunity for travel-free work—even if she wasn’t exactly a restaurateur. “I have more of a business background, and budgeting and all that stuff, and people experience,” Jane said of the decision to purchase the diner. “So I thought, ‘Well, I can figure this out.’”
She hired back former staff, which wasn’t without its challenges, but Jane nonetheless persevered. “I learned how to build a rapport with different personalities. It was really a lesson in human nature, and how to get the best out of each individual and their abilities.” At first, Jane revived the existing classic diner menu; in the years since, she and Cassidy have kept the classic diner fare of eggs, pancakes, and waffles, while introducing unique and regionally inspired dishes such as the Lobby Benny (that’s lobster benedict), the Bowdoin Bowl (a heaping breakfast bowl named for its many patrons from the nearby college), and colorful cocktails that arrive at the table looking as glorious as they taste.
After bartending at a James Beard Award-nominated restaurant in Portland, Cassidy returned full time to the diner in 2020, and has since taken on the majority of responsibility for its operation. Growing up doing her homework at the counter after school, Cassidy watched her mother deal with the challenges of running a year-round diner, including surviving through the COVID-19 pandemic. Inspired by her mother’s resilience and the vibrant atmosphere she has built, King is excited to be the Brunswick Diner’s sixth owner and champion. “This place is more than a restaurant; it’s a community.”
With the diner in her daughter’s capable hands, Jane is not exactly sitting still. In addition to running an Airbnb in her home (“I meet tons of people from all over the world,” she says), Jane travels for her work in the wholesale sales and distribution business of paddleboards and surfboards, as well sales representation of multiple apparel lines in the Northeast. For pleasure, she seeks out any body of water to fly-fish, from Maine to the Bahamas, and enjoys family life on the Kennebec River. But no matter where she roams, Davis loves coming home to Maine for community and a hot cup of coffee—in her own personal mug—at the Brunswick Diner.
ON THE MENU
Heading to the Brunswick Diner? Don’t miss these fan favorites!
Bowdoin Bowl
Breakfast bowl named for its many patrons from nearby Bowdoin College. Tater Tots, brussels sprouts, cheddar cheese, bacon, and tomatoes are topped with two poached eggs, scallions, and hollandaise sauce.
Classic Benny
Toasted king-size English muffin, roasted ham, and two poached eggs smothered in hollandaise.
Mimosas!
In addition to creative and delicious food, the Brunswick Diner serves up signature cocktails for your brunching pleasure.