It’s hard not to smile. What I came for is right there, to my left – coffee. But there’s more to smile about. Rudy’s of the Cape is not one of those places where you can just slide in unnoticed. Everyone is greeted, either by name or a more generic “honey. Either way, both patrons and owner are glad you’re there.

When time permits, I stop at Rudy’s after church. It’s is a real treat. There’s an atmosphere that is genuine – with perhaps an edge and an attitude. It’s an environment that beckons you to come in and join the conversation, or maybe a debate, with community members – an antiques dealer, construction workers, fishermen, politicians, professionals, young and old.

Rudy’s has personality.

I read with interest the March 27 Current article, “Rudy’s plan riles Cape neighbors.” Owner Mary Page wants to increase seating, stay open longer and offer alcohol with meals. Reading between the lines, this appeared a case of a neighbor building an angry personal case against Rudy’s. I decided to stop into Rudy’s and speak to Mary for myself.

It had been a while since I had been in there. The interior has been completely painted a very tasteful orange with brown accent trim. A bar has been added, though the coffee nook, corner counter, breakfast counter and tables continued to bustle with the typical morning crowd. Mary buzzed around waiting on customers, and in between, we spoke.

“This whole thing has been blown out of proportion” she explained. “I need to compete like any other business in the area.”

Why should a few neighbors feel it their place to deny Rudy’s patrons their place? “Our neighbors are welcome here,” she said with a smile, gesturing to the sign that hangs over the bar offering their favorite wine at $700 a glass. Come in and drink a few of those, and no doubt, Mary could afford to close a little earlier.

And that on the surface appears to be the issue. A liquor license offers businesses the opportunity to serve until 1 a.m. Though Page has no intention of staying open regularly until 1 (after all, she’s flipping eggs starting at 5 a.m.), she’d like all the perks and benefits that the license offers – and for Page, that may mean that on occasion, she’d serve until 1 for a private party function.

“It’s no different than buying a new car – I want the extended warranty that everyone else gets,” she said. This sounds reasonable to me.

A neighborhood restaurant is a gift. It is a place where all walks of life can gather and feel welcome. You can learn a lot about an area by visiting the local watering hole. It’s where truth is revealed – the good, the bad, and the ugly. A community is made up of many parts, and it cannot survive without a balance of all walks of life. Cape Elizabeth is no different.

A resident suggested that allowing Rudy’s to serve alcohol to patrons opens the doors to another Old Port! Hardly! The Old Port is home to top restaurants, and it also has a lively bar scene. With its mix of working professionals and laborers, the Old Port is a true asset – a destination that I share with friends who visit from away. Cape Elizabeth is a different experience. As a bedroom community, for the most part, it draws locals and, of course, tourists.

The Planning Board meets next Tuesday to talk about zoning changes that could eventually allow Rudy’s to offer longer hours and more seats.

Concerned parties should get together and talk – and Rudy’s is the best place for this. My visit with Mary convinced me that she wants Rudy’s to remain a fun, friendly gathering place that is welcoming to both young and old. What’s wrong with that?

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