American Graffitti Drive-In to reopen

[Rathbone]

I was previously a member of this board as Oddjob2, but I couldn't log in with that anymore so I changed my name. I though some of you may not already know about this:

The Parasol building in Seal Beach will reopen as Mel's Drive-In
The Parasol building, an iconic Seal Beach landmark, will soon be home to Orange County's first Mel's Drive-In diner.
By SCOTT MARTINDALE
The Orange County Register
SEAL BEACH – The landmark Parasol building, once home to a popular family-owned eatery housed under a circular pink-and-white roof, will reopen early next year as a Mel's Drive-In diner.

The building's owner, Century National Properties, is scheduled to announce the deal today. The Seal Beach location will be Mel's first foray into Orange County.

Mel's Drive-In, made famous in George Lucas' 1973 coming-of-age classic "American Graffiti," will retain the Googie-style architecture and decorative elements that the Parasol was known for. Mel's has seven locations in the Los Angeles area and San Francisco.

"We look for unique buildings," said owner Steven Weiss, who has been looking to expand into Orange County for about two years. "When the opportunity came for the location in Seal Beach, we said, 'That's the Googie-style architecture we're looking for.' You can't get any better than that."

The Parasol opened in 1967, the second of a small chain of Los Angeles-area restaurants that have all closed. The building was constructed in an exaggerated, space-age architectural style known as Googie, which was popular in the 1950s and '60s.

Mel's Drive-In plans to restore many of the Parasol's features, including the layout, the tables and chairs, and the sign outside, at a cost of about $1 million, Weiss said. The exterior pink-and-white color scheme, however, will be changed, likely to a combination of white, beige and green.

The Parasol's former operator, Roy Hall, who closed the restaurant in March after lease negotiations fizzled with landlord Century National Properties, said he would consider selling his parasol-shaped chandeliers and lights to Mel's so the Parasol could be authentically restored. Those lights, one of the most striking features of the former eatery, are in storage, Hall said.

"All the lighting was working when I took it down. They just need to be refurbished a little bit," the 64-year-old Huntington Beach resident said.

After the Parasol closed, Century National Properties spent about $1.5 million renovating the 39-year-old structure as part of a massive overhaul of the aging Rossmoor Center on Seal Beach Boulevard. Much of the northern half of the center was torn down earlier this year.

As part of the center's renovation, the Parasol building also was slated for demolition. That prompted a vocal group of community members calling itself the Friends of the Parasol to organize a petition to save it. Organizers said the petition had more than 10,000 signatures.

Around the same time, Century's senior management team changed, and the new bosses decided to spare the building and reopen a restaurant there, project manager Shari Walker said.

"We really wanted a tenant that would speak to the vintage of the building and whose menu would be at a price point that would still serve a broad sector of the community," Walker said.

Most patrons spend $7 to $9 for a meal at Mel's Drive-In.

"I'm very excited to see a long-time tenant like Mel's operating out of the Parasol," said Adriene Biondo, chair of the Los Angeles Conservancy's modern committee. "They have become known for operating out of authentic vintage space."

CONTACT US: 714-445-6692 or smartindale@ocregister.com

[cruzr]

cool.........when it opens i will have to cruise over and check it out

[man-a-fre]

good to know,never heard about it!

[Spike!]

Awsome. It's amazing what 10,000 signatures can do...

Spike

[Royalshifter]

My wife will be excited and that is good for me.

[JimA]

Another Parasol was nearby in Torrace- it was demolished a few years ago for ANOTHER frickin' Walgreens. We have them on every other corner.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Post some pics of what this place looks like @ the moment
Sometimes when I get adventurous, The gal & I ride the Gold Line from Pasadena to Union Station, then go to the lower level & ride the Metro Red line to Hollywierd & exit @ the Kodak center & walk across the street to the former Max Factor building which has a Mel's on the end of it to grab a burger. Couldn't do that ride in the roadster for what it costs to ride the train & forego the overpriced parking & tourist traffic .

Hey Jim,
If you have any shots of the one in Torrance, post em

[RustyRedRam]

Should be interesting to see once it opens. Now all they need is someone to stay there and lay down a Vespa into the curb all night.

RRR

[Muttley]

Well, I wont be there...........I'm staying right here having fun as usual.

[RustyRedRam]

Originally Posted by Muttley

Well, I wont be there...........I'm staying right here having fun as usual.

Oh come on Muttley, you gotta leave this turkey town

RRR

[Ruiner]

oh god, here we go with the movie quotes..."sticky little mothers, ain't they?"

[**MCQUEEN**]

That's cool. Hope someone can post some before and after pics. Wish it was closer. It'd be neat if hot rodders started hanging out there like old times, It's great to see something going nostalgic.



"Well, get in and I'll let you feel it... I mean, you know, you can touch it... uh... I'll let you feel the upholstery".



.

[Ruiner]

I really want to see some before and after photos...

so is this the original drive-in from the movie, or just one that happens to look like it?

"I was a dirty bird, carol's not grungy she's bitchin"

[Rathbone]

I don't live anywhere near there so someone else will have to take the photos. I just saw this article and thought it would be well received here.

[Whiplash]

Mel's Diner, on South Van Ness Ave in San Francisco, was around for many years before being used as a location in American Graffiti. It was torn down shortly after the filming.

[Cyclone Kevin]

Originally Posted by Whiplash

Mel's Diner, on South Van Ness Ave in San Francisco, was around for many years before being used as a location in American Graffiti. It was torn down shortly after the filming.

I believe that is a Mission Revival Style Chevron station now,I stopped in there once & started to look @ the other buildings for reference.
In one of the long distance shots that most of us a fans never see, one can see that there are very larger buildings around & it kinda looks outta place.

When the movie was to be filmed, Mels as a drive in was already closed, George Lucas got in touch with the owner & rented it. He didn't have to pay very much but the prop people sure did have to work hard to make it all look "fresh"
Rick Figari= Current Milner coupe owners mother worked @ a Mels not sure if it was the one from the movie, but he was all over the history of it.

I may just take a ride out to Seal Beach to see what this Parasol one was all about. If they are to make this a True Drive In style restaurant, I like to see em use the movie version as a blueprint, that would off the hook!
It would be worth the drive down then.

[Dave Downs]

Damn....I just watched American Grafitti over the weekend for the first time since it came out.....

"You car is uglier than I am"

[Ruiner]

"You and me Toad, we'll take em all on"

[Boones]

Cool.. I get to Seal beach a few times a year on business.

[Mr T body]

This is the best shot I could find