Steven Weiss and partner Donald Wagstaff opened the first of the “Next Generation” Mel’s Drive-ins in September of 1985. The restaurant, located at 2165 Lombard Street in San Francisco, appealed to families wanting to share the tastes, sights, and sounds of the 1950s drive-in era with their children. A little over two years later, a second location was established on Geary Boulevard, also in San Francisco. The next two restaurants opened in Los Angeles, one in Sherman Oaks and the other in West Hollywood on the Sunset Strip. Van Ness Avenue is home to the third San Francisco location, and the fourth opened its doors in November of 2000 next to the Sony Metreon Center in the Yerba Buena area. In the heart of Hollywood on the famous Hollywood Boulevard our fifth location was opened with a full-service Celebrity Bar. The most recent addition to the Mel’s family is the Rancho Cucamonga location located near Ontario Mills on the border of Rancho Cucamonga and Ontario.
This authenic reproduction tin sign makes a great gift. It’s like a blast from the past.
The business of food will always be profitable when it’s approached the right way. Fresh ingredients and friendly service are often enough to set a successful diner apart from the run of the mill. Of course, no traditional diner would be complete without some classic décor. Antique bar stools, a steel counter and a chalk board for listing the day’s specials are basic diner essentials.
Bare walls would never do in a cozy restaurant, and that’s where diner signs become indispensable. Some old-fashioned signs advertise products from a bygone age. Others simply provide a gentle reminder about the wholesome food that awaits eager patrons. Either way, retro signs add an extra element of ambiance to the classic diner experience.