CAPE ELIZABETH – Cape Elizabeth residents Mike and Stephanie Concannon officially opened the doors to their business, C-Salt Gourmet Market on Ocean House Road in early October. And just in the past couple of weeks, the response from the community has been overwhelmingly positive.

“It’s been much busier than we anticipated it would be,” Mike Concannon said. “We appreciate everyone coming in and we thank them for their patience during the first few days.”

After nearly three years in the making, C-Salt Gourmet Market, an upscale cafe? and bakery located at 349 Ocean House Road near the entrance to Cape Elizabeth High School, opened for business on Oct. 8. The building broke ground in April.

“This is nice,” said Cape Elizabeth resident Kirk Pond, who had lunch with his wife, Nancy, at C-Salt on Monday afternoon. That was the first time either had dined at the new gourmet market, and both residents said they liked that the market stays open until 8 p.m.

“It’s very fresh, and it has quite an extensive selection” of menu items, said Nancy Pond.

“It’s very welcoming and bright,” she said of the environment. “We are very supportive of this. It’s a wonderful addition to the community.”

Open from 5:45 a.m.-8 p.m. every day, C-Salt offers soups, salads, breakfast and gourmet sandwiches, prepared foods, baked goods, coffee, wine, beer and much more.

On Monday, Mike Concannon said that a grand opening celebration would be tentatively held this week, and that the menu would be expanded to offer a larger selection of sandwiches and burritos.

Mike Concannon said, as of Sunday, he and his wife, Stephanie, had hired all of their kitchen staff. In all, C-Salt has 25-30 part- and full-time employees, including the general manager, Jeff Gibson.

“It’s nice to be local, and all of our employees are from around here,” said Stephanie Concannon. “So far, they’ve been excited about being here and the energy level has been great.”

Though this is the couple’s first retail venture, Mike Concannon is also the president of Port Printing Solutions, a commercial printing company, which he moved from South Portland to the second floor of the C-Salt building on Ocean House Road.

The couple has been living in Cape Elizabeth for 10 years. About five years ago, they began thinking about starting another business that would cater to the needs of the Cape Elizabeth community. During the planning process, they considered opening their business in other locations, but felt there was a need for a gourmet market in Cape Elizabeth, said Stephanie Concannon.

“It’s all homemade,” she said of the food, including the ham and Brie sandwich, which has been a customer favorite. The ham is freshly sliced and topped with Brie cheese and honey mustard, and served on a fresh-baked croissant.

Other sandwich offerings include a BLT, a chicken Caesar wrap, steak and cheese, a turkey club and more. C-Salt also has a large selection of salads, breakfast items and other prepared foods, including a lemon thyme panko chicken, meatballs or bacon-wrapped meatloaf.

“We are tweaking the menu a little bit each day so we get it perfect,” said Mike Concannon.

Eventually, the couple plans to offer catering services, pies to order for the holidays, and outdoor seating when it warms up. Beginning in November, C-Salt will host wine tasting events and food pairings once or twice a month.

Tom Schrank, 22, an associate at C-Salt, said he has heard positive feedback from several people since it opened.

“I am very pleased to hear that they are satisfied with the food they order,” said Schrank.

“We offer a variety of different entrees and desserts, some of them being gluten-free. We also have a big selection of sandwiches, wraps and salads to choose from,” he said.

“It’s wonderful to see new businesses in town, and I am happy to support it,” said resident Jessica Sullivan, who is also the chairwoman of the Cape Elizabeth Town Council. On Monday, Sullivan had lunch with her friend, Beverly Sherman, who has lived in Cape Elizabeth for 36 years.

“The portions are generous, and the staff is helpful and friendly,” said Sherman. “The location is super.”

“This is the best BLT I’ve ever had,” she said.

Mike and Stephanie Concannon, of Cape Elizabeth, are the owners of the new C-Salt Gourmet Market, which opened on Oct. 8 near the entrance to Cape Elizabeth High School on Ocean House Road.