When Jeremy Allen learned early Tuesday that Elsie’s on the Commons had finally opened for business, he rushed right down with spouse and kids in tow. Together, he and his five guests crowded into a booth in the brightly lit restaurant and put in orders for jonnycakes. The place was full despite the last minute announcement that it was open for business.

“For the community it’s super important to have a third place where we can meet,” he said.

Tuesday’s “soft opening” came about at the last minute, co-owner Kaitlin Donahue said, when she and husband Adam realized they had everything they needed for a soft opening. Running around from table to table, she said she was tired but full of joy over the restaurant’s first day.

Getting to that point was not easy and took months of work, she said.

“It feels great. We have learned that opening a restaurant is tremendous and I feel more tired than when I had three kids under three, but it feels great to see people together.”

For the next few days, the restaurant will open from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., she said.

— With reports by Christian Silvia