100th Anniversary of Waco Diner

Floor Speech

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Ms. COLLINS. Madam President, in April of 1924, Nelson Watts and Ralph Colwell combined forces and syllables from their last names and opened the WaCo Diner in Eastport, ME. One hundred years later, the WaCo is still going strong as the oldest diner in the State of Maine, proudly serving great food and friendship in America's easternmost city.

The WaCo began life as a lunch wagon converted from a traveling photographer's studio. With Eastport hosting more than a dozen sardine factories, a deepwater seaport, and visitors arriving by sea and rail to enjoy the very best of Maine's rocky coast, the new establishment thrived, the wheels were removed, and the wagon was boxed in to make a permanent structure.

Under a succession of owners over the years, the WaCo has expanded from a narrow lunch counter to a lovely restaurant with a spacious dining room. From the outdoor deck overlooking Passamaquoddy Bay, patrons enjoy beautiful views of Canada's Campobello Island and a passing parade of marine activity, from cargo vessels, cruise ships, and fishing boats to whales, porpoises, and seals.

The current owners, Mike Del Papa and Matt Boyle, bought the WaCo in 2022, after Mike's dad Bob retired at the age of 83 after many years of operating and growing the business. Mike and Matt both brought restaurant operations, general business, and customer service experiences with them, and have invested significant money, time and energy into the equipment and facilities to enhance the atmosphere and efficiency, while continuing to offer amazing meals and a great customer experience, led by server Tammy McPhail, a 20-plus-year veteran, and chef Steve Sonner. In addition to providing good jobs year-round, the WaCo brings back summer staff each tourism season.

The WaCo is a mainstay, not only in Eastport but also throughout the Downeast region, welcoming locals and visitors alike. Among the many themed evenings featuring special creations, a local favorite is the ``Dry Fish Dinner--prepared Robert Patterson's Way,'' a tribute to the late, beloved owner/chef of the New Friendly Restaurant in the neighboring town of Perry.

The WaCo is dedicated to supporting other Maine businesses. When possible, they source seafood locally. All draft beers are from Maine breweries, and potato chips are from Maine's Fox Family in Mapleton. Several recipes utilize Raye's Mustard, made in Eastport at the last remaining traditional stone-ground mustard in North America, while others use Wyman's wild Maine blueberries, harvested from the barrens of the surrounding countryside.

In addition to dedication to excellence, the WaCo carries on another great tradition of our State's small business community: giving back. Last year, the WaCo served a free Thanksgiving dinner to more than 150 people from the Downeast community and, at Christmastime, a free pancake breakfast with Santa for children. Through charitable events in 2023, the WaCo and its customers raised more than $5,000 to support Sarah's House of Maine, a cancer hospitality house near the Lafayette Family Cancer Center in Brewer, saving rural patients and their families hours of travel for treatments.

The WaCo Diner in Eastport is a shining example of the entrepreneurial spirit and community pride that define the State of Maine. I congratulate the entire WaCo team on this landmark anniversary and wish them much success in the years to come.

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