Mel’s diner coming to Antioch in former Uno’s, Hurricane Grill & Wings location
A “Coming Soon” banner went up on the former Hurricane Grill & Wings location one Lone Tree Way in Antioch, Wednesday, promoting the new Mel’s diner.
By Allen Payton
A new Mel’s Diner location is coming to Antioch, and is scheduled to open by the end of the year. It will be in the former location of the short-lived Hurricane Grill & Wings, which was Uno Chicago Grill on Lone Tree Way in the Williamson Ranch Plaza, near Staples and Walmart.
The closest Mel’s Diner location is at the Streets of Brentwood. The new restaurant will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner. The owners are not sure, yet if it will be open 24 hours.
Mel’s has a long history in California, with the first opened in San Francisco in 1947 by Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs. That location was featured in the movie American Graffiti. For more information about Mel’s including their menu, visit www.originalmelsdiner.com.
the attachments to this post:
Hurricane Grill location to become Mel’s Diner
Gross
I said it before… businesses don’t thrive in Antioch, especially restaurants. This is low-income city.
Actually, RJB, the truth is the average household income in Southeast Antioch, in the 94531 ZIP code is higher than in parts of the San Ramon Valley, and there are more people with advanced degrees, as well. Some postal carrier routes have average, annual household incomes of $110,000, $130,000 and even $150,000.
The issue isn’t the money in Antioch. Businesses fail all the time. In fact, “the Bureau of Labor Statistics in the US found that 24 percent of businesses failed in the first year, and 48 percent didn’t make it past the second year.”
So, this is not unique to Antioch.
The keys to success for a business are to provide a good product and/or service, let people know they’re there (hint, hint – advertise!), and offer their products and services at rates that the customers in their market can afford, and which will produce a profit so they can remain in business.
Restaurants in particular have a narrow profit margin. So they tend to fail more often, especially mom and pop-type shops. The chains have systems that the manager is taught to follow or the franchisee pays for.
Yet, even some of the big chains have failed – where’s Coco’s and all the Far West Services chains of restaurants? Gone. Marie Callendar’s? Gone. Carrows? Gone. Bob’s Big Boy? Only 6 left in California and they’re all in SoCal.
According to a study by the Restaurant Brokers, “up to 90 percent of independent establishments close during the first year, and the remaining restaurants will have an average five-year life span.”
Another study by The Perry Group “concluded that most restaurants close during their first year of operation. Seventy percent of those that make it past the first year close their doors in the next three to five years. Ninety percent of the restaurants that are still operating past the five-year mark will stay in business for a minimum of 10 years.”
So, again. It’s not unique to Antioch nor based on the average household income. That more likely affects the type of restaurants and where they’re located in town.
There are some businesses in Antioch that have been open for many, many years and continue to thrive. So, if you change your comment to read “some businesses…” then at least part of your comment would be correct.
Allen Payton, Publisher
Well done. My family and I tried Hurricane once. The service was bad and the staff had a decidedly poor attitude. Hopefully the new store and management will do better. Cocina Medina, a block away, is extremely well-run, and is always busy.
Cocina Medina is great! and yes you are right about their service. They are always so welcoming to everyone.
Hi Allen,
What type of restaurants would thrive in Antioch?
RJB,
I’m not the restaurant expert. I’ll leave that up to those in that industry.
But, I would like to see some restaurants that aren’t in East County, already, and definitely at least one sit-down, white table cloth restaurant, other than Lone Tree Golf & Event Center, which has great food.
We don’t have any Italian restaurants in Antioch, although Little Manuel’s does serve some Italian food, and there’s Olive Garden close by in Pittsburg. So, maybe a Carrabba’s or Romano’s Macaroni Grill could fill that category.
Here’s what I’d like to see locate in Antioch, and not in any particular order: Dave & Busters, Boston Market, Scott’s, Kincaid’s, Chick-Fil-A, TGI Friday’s and Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse.
If you look at the list of the top 100 Chains, we have many if not most of them in East County, already. http://nrn.com/us-top-100/top-100-chains-us-sales
What restaurants would you like to see locate in Antioch?
Allen Payton
I, too, would like the same restaurants you just listed. However, most of the poeple in Antioch cannot afford places such as Ruth’s Chris. Perhaps a Texas Road house like in Tracy would be more like the price point people here will feel comfortable with.
Isn’t it strange that a city like Tracy would have much better restaurants compared to Antioch? They have great burger places such as the squeeze in, and many of the regular mainstream restaurants.
Point being… It seems that Antioch has a bad reputation when it comes to businesses. Look at where the business is going… all Brentwood. Great Wolf Lodge is in discussion with Brentwood.
Antioch flat out sucks and people need to understand that we cannot attract better businesses/restaurants unless we clean up this town.
I’m doing as much research as I can on all candidates for the next election. Change starts at the top and it is important that we vote the right person(s) in .
But, places like Ruth’s Chris would not just draw from Antioch residents, but people from throughout East County. That’s part of the idea. Get restaurants in Antioch that will draw from a wider audience and get out-of-towners to spend their money in Antioch, instead of just Antioch people going out of town to eat.
Also, about Tracy, you have to remember, it’s a cross-roads city, with both 580/205 and I-5 running through it, as well as the Byron Highway from Brentwood and Texas Roadhouse is right next to the freeway. So, that’s perhaps why they attracted that to their city.
Allen Payton
As stated above.. Without providing a good product and/or service along with good management, it doesn’t matter what type of business open, it won’t last.
No different than a Lumpy’s. I am always excited to see someone else try to make a go of it. RJB Antioch people eat too…if we didn’t have places here we would have to go elsewhere. I have had it with Jack in the box, mc donalds, taco bell, etc.
We usually go to Brentwood or Concord for good food and service.
So Allen, what is the average income in Antioch, not SE Antioch, Antioch as a whole.
Nancy,
According to what I just found in an internet search is, the average household income citywide as of 2013 is $59,356.
Source – http://www.city-data.com/income/income-Antioch-California.html
But, this site states it is $65,494. Yet, 32% of households had average, annual incomes of between $75,000 and $150,000. And 11% had incomes of $150,000 and up. So, over 43% of the households had average, annual income of over $75,000 per year and about 28.5% had incomes of $100,000 or more.
Source – http://www.bestplaces.net/economy/city/california/antioch
Allen Payton, Publisher
Never mind Allen, I found it on City-Data.com. In 2013 it was 59,000+. Doubt it has changed at all or not more than 10K.
Please check the my edited comment, Nancy.
I don’t think the city is like what was portrayed in the video that was put out, but I don’t think what RJB said about the City is true either. Just look at China City for instance. I know it has been there for at least 20 years. Little Manuel’s has also been in the city for a long time as well.
And Fin-Tastik Tropical Fish in downtown Rivertown, is just barely hanging on for just about 5 years lol
But, we don’t eat that kind of fish, Rick. LOL
Allen Payton
Couple the taxes and governmental requirements with a current $11/hr server minimum wage. The result is higher menu prices and less service. Both will drive the middle of the spectrum casual dining players out of business. You will be left with high end restaurants that can absorb these with higher prices and the quick casual and quick serve players which will continue to see more automation in the future. Wait til the next bump in minimum wage and see how many more go down. There simply isn’t enough meat on the bone.
Business competition always places the consumer at an advantage. If we had several great places to eat, they would compete by bringing their prices down. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough good places and businesses in Antioch for competitive scenario.
Best case scenario, have mediocre and maybe a handful of okay to great places to dine and shop.
Neither one of those restaurants are more than average restaurants. They have been there a long time. But not places I would take friends from out of town to eat. There is really nothing in town I’d take even my sister to for a special occasion. She used to love one restaurant in town, now long gone. Mr. Brown is partially correct. The good ones don’t hang around because no one goes there. Even the golf course couldn’t make it with out subsidy and it isn’t wonderful anymore. Go to the golf course for lunch and not more than 3 or 4 tables are used and the service is sporadic.
Have you tried the Costco food court? I highly recommend.
Will they be hiring for any new positions when Mel’s Diner opens? Please let me know if they are accepting applications u can email me at rebeccaschwerin6@gmail.com or my cell number is 1-424-581-2677 Thanks Becky Schwerin