Angela Dobbins and Kenneth Zittenfield at Chalkboard Cafe on Broadway.

SEASIDE — Chalkboard Cafe, run by Angela Dobbins and her partner, Kenneth Zittenfield, is nestled along the riverfront in the historic Gilbert Building.

The cafe’s seating area boasts a colorful mural, painted by Dobbins, and features an ever-changing chalkboard menu.

“I’ve wanted that name for over 25 years,” Zittenfield said. “You work in different restaurants and you work with a set menu. You’ve got specials and whatnot, but to be able to rotate your menu all the time is the goal. So the chalkboard was a big idea for me to erase it every week and start something new.”

Zittenfield has always loved cooking and has wanted to open his own culinary business since he was a teenager. A professional cook since he was 15 years old, Zittenfield carved out a niche as a banquet chef at hotels in his hometown of Portland.

Dobbins, who spent her childhood in Texas helping out in her mother’s kitchen, moved to Portland a decade ago. But it was in Seaside that she met her future business partner, when the two were in town visiting relatives for Thanksgiving. Three years ago, they moved to Seaside permanently.

Dobbins said the close-knit community was welcoming and remained supportive as the couple pursued their business plan.

“She’s never done any restaurant business whatsoever, and she was very apprehensive at first,” Zittenfield said. “But she’s such a people person, this is the perfect place for her.”

“This community is just wonderful, they’ve just been cheering us on,” Dobbins said. “All the businesses down here came up and said, ‘If you need any help with anything, just call us day or night,’ and I actually have had to do that a couple times. And they’ve been right there to help us.

“It’s a wonderful community to live in, and to have that kind of camaraderie with everybody, I’m just enjoying the heck out of it.”

The cafe, which held a soft opening on Broadway in November, is geared toward serving comfort food in a family-style atmosphere. Zittenfield is most looking forward to serving all-day breakfast, though patrons should save room for the special Philly cheesesteak he’s been perfecting for years.

Dobbins and Zittenfield also emphasize the importance of supporting local vendors within the cafe. The kitchen serves coffee from Burly and the Bean Coffee Roasters, based in Seaside, and sources meat from Reed & Hertig Packing Co., based in Warrenton.

Chalkboard Cafe had its grand opening on Dec. 1. The owners look forward to further introducing themselves to the community as more locals and tourists alike stop by the establishment.

“I just like to make people happy and see them eat Ken’s food and enjoy it,” said Dobbins. “Their faces are happy, they have happy smiles and happy bellies when they leave the building.”

“We want to be well known for feeding people love,” Zittenfield added.