A Classic Keeps On Rockin’
Mels Drive-In recognized as an institution on the West Coast looks to
spread the 50’s spirit of fun and friends throughout the nation. Mels is the place to
kick back, enjoy the music, enjoy the ambiance, talk with friends and eat really good
food. Service with a smile, starts and ends every meal.
Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs built their first carhop eatery in 1947. With a staff of 14 carhops covering 30,000 square feet of parking lot, they lured local radio stations to do live remotes. At all hours of the day and night, crowds of people enjoyed dining in their cars. It didn’t take long before the concept multiplied to eleven locations. Their carhop eateries reigned for twenty years, before the wave of "fast food" outlets outpaced their service. In 1972, it looked like the concept was a dinosaur going extinct when a young filmmaker, George Lucas, was scouting locations as a centerpiece for his rock’n’roll fable about life in postwar America. Mel’s burger spot came to his attention and Mel’s was leased as a movie prop before its demolition. Mel’s was brought back to life in 35mm film. As bulldozers razed the last remains of the historic drive-in and the trucks carted away debris, American Graffiti opened in theaters. Thirteen years later, Mel’s son Stephen began to grow nostalgic about his father’s dream. Stephen found an encouraging partner in Donald Wagstaff and the path to reclaim a legend was clear. In 1985, Stephen’s relived his father’s dream by opening Mel’s Drive-In.
The Next Generation
The first locations for the revival of Mels Drive-In were in San Francisco on Lombard Street and Geary Boulevard, followed by two units in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles units include a unit on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood and in Sherman Oaks on Ventura Boulevard. Additional units opened at Universal Studios theme parks in Florida and California. All are replicas of the original, creating new memories or reliving old ones, however the drive-in aspect with car hops serving curb side is still a distant memory. The aesthetics include neon lighting, formica top tables, green-trimmed vinyl booths and jukeboxes, plus you can still sit at the counter. Kid meals are served in Mel’s car that can be taken home. Burgers, soups, salads and fountain choices can be gotten while taking a stroll down memory lane. The menu is best described as comfort food in huge portions that stick to the ribs and the ice cream desserts remain a specialty. Food service covers breakfast, lunch and dinner. Patrons can also order beer and wine. A Mels Drive In customer profile is largely made up of young, affluent professionals.
National Growth Sought
Currently operating five freestanding locations in California, the company is looking to expand nationally. Only freestanding or flagship "anchor" storefronts ranging from 4,000 to 5,000 square feet with the local entitlements to perform themed exterior architecture will be considered for future sites. Ample, adjacent dedicated customer parking is required. The concept is a high energy 24-hour operation, so the trade area must have a high energy, glitzy tourist and non-tourist-based traffic generated by a variety of daytime and night time entertainment and employment venues. Mega-screen movie theaters and entertainment venues are sought as traffic generators. Build-to-suits arrangements with aggressive landlord allowances based upon 20-year lease terms and conditions will also be pursued. Potential sites should also offer excellent signage and visibility, along with outdoor seating accommodations.
For more information on the company contact Stephen Weiss of Mels Drive-In at 8585 Sunset Blvd., Hollywood, California, 90069 or by phone at 310-457-6019, Fax 457-1529.