Was the diner closed on Sundays? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

GARFIELDKOOL · 05-12-2007, 01:26 PM

I believe it was. You would think that they all would want a day off, including Mel.

Brian Damage · 05-12-2007, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I believe it was. You would think that they all would want a day off, including Mel.

I actually think it was closed for the weekend...but I could be wrong.

Dr. Thong · 05-12-2007, 06:00 PM

A lot of things were closed on Sundays in those days, though restaurants, theaters and bars generally tended to be open. Which made sense, considering weekends is when they did their most business.

Growing up in Massachusetts, retail stores were closed Sundays and holidays. You couldn't shop on memorial day, fourth of July, labor day, etc. You could go to a convienience store if you desperately needed a grocery item, but most people made sure to shop by Saturday.

I think they should go back to Sunday and holiday store closings.

Brian Damage · 05-12-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

A lot of things were closed on Sundays in those days, though restaurants, theaters and bars generally tended to be open. Which made sense, considering weekends is when they did their most business.

Growing up in Massachusetts, retail stores were closed Sundays and holidays. You couldn't shop on memorial day, fourth of July, labor day, etc. You could go to a convienience store if you desperately needed a grocery item, but most people made sure to shop by Saturday.

I think they should go back to Sunday and holiday store closings.

I think they still do that in New Jersey.

friendsfan77 · 05-12-2007, 08:42 PM

It was open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

JAlanRuss72 · 05-12-2007, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by friendsfan77

It was open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

That's right. There was one episode where Tommy was blaring his stereo loud and Alice yelled at him: "Tommy, why are you playing that damned phonograph? You know Sunday is the only day I get to sleep!"

On another episode where they are all trapped in the storeroom ("Don't Lock Now", 1978) Mel states that it's no use yelling for help. "This neighborhood is TOTALLY deserted on Sundays. Why do you think I close the Diner?" They stayed pretty consistent with that detail, at least for the first couple of seasons. Not sure about the '80s.

liane60 · 08-31-2018, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GARFIELDKOOL

I believe it was. You would think that they all would want a day off, including Mel.

Mel once said if there were more customers he'd have it open.

TheLittleFaerie · 09-03-2018, 04:51 AM

I cannot see how Mel kept from going bankrupt if her closed on the week-ends, that is when they do most of their business!

I've heard restaurant owners say, if you're going to maintain a restaurant you got to be there ALL THE TIME, almost literally!

Although we do have a few restaurants around here that close on Monday.

Dr. Thong · 09-03-2018, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I cannot see how Mel kept from going bankrupt if her closed on the week-ends, that is when they do most of their business!

I've heard restaurant owners say, if you're going to maintain a restaurant you got to be there ALL THE TIME, almost literally!

Although we do have a few restaurants around here that close on Monday.

Yep. There's an ice cream stand across the street from me that used to be closed on Sundays, which perplexed me. I found out that the reason was that the owners were religious and closed it because of that.

I get that they were religious, but Sunday is one of the biggest days of business for an ice cream stand, particularly because it was a seasonal business. I wonder how many people drove by on Sundays and, disappointed, never went back.

The owners eventually sold it to someone who opened it up on Sundays. The original owners ended up opening a breakfast place later on, but opened it up on Sundays, not repeating their mistake with the ice cream place. Someone must have told them that it would be suicide to have a breakfast place not open on Sundays. Here in New England, breakfast places are packed on Sundays.

Mr. Television · 09-03-2018, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I cannot see how Mel kept from going bankrupt if her closed on the week-ends, that is when they do most of their business!

I've heard restaurant owners say, if you're going to maintain a restaurant you got to be there ALL THE TIME, almost literally!

Although we do have a few restaurants around here that close on Monday.

A lot of restaurants around here are closed on Mondays too.

TheLittleFaerie · 09-04-2018, 01:35 AM

I think Mondays are a good choice day to close since it's kinda a break from the busy week-end.

OneWayFilms · 09-05-2018, 04:07 PM

It was the law back then for certain types of businesses to be closed on Sunday's. It's called the Blue Law.

Bonniegirl · 09-05-2018, 04:46 PM

Back on the day Sundays were for going to church, visiting relatives for a nice meal or Mom making a big dinner! Taking a drive in the country.

Stores and most restaurants were closed!

visaman666 · 09-05-2018, 07:53 PM

Mel's was a trucker and factory diner. If the factories are closed on Sunday, there would be no business, so might as well close too.

Bonniegirl · 09-05-2018, 08:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by visaman666

Mel's was a trucker and factory diner. If the factories are closed on Sunday, there would be no business, so might as well close too.

Exactly!! Totally , mainly a working man's breakfast and lunch place!

Come to think of it there were never any families eating there. They never showed kids in the diner that I can remember?, except for the orphans on Thanksgiving !!

05-12-2007, 01:26 PM	#1
GARFIELDKOOL Member Forum Veteran Join Date: Sep 02, 2004 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 7,204	Was the diner closed on Sundays? I believe it was. You would think that they all would want a day off, including Mel.

05-12-2007, 06:00 PM	#3
Dr. Thong a/k/a "ACK!" Forum Veteran Join Date: Jul 10, 2001 Location: New Hampshire, USA Posts: 5,546	A lot of things were closed on Sundays in those days, though restaurants, theaters and bars generally tended to be open. Which made sense, considering weekends is when they did their most business. Growing up in Massachusetts, retail stores were closed Sundays and holidays. You couldn't shop on memorial day, fourth of July, labor day, etc. You could go to a convienience store if you desperately needed a grocery item, but most people made sure to shop by Saturday. I think they should go back to Sunday and holiday store closings.
	__________________ "Sunday has been cancelled due to lack of interest. That is all."

05-12-2007, 08:42 PM	#5
friendsfan77 - Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Oct 02, 2004 Location: Duluth, GA Posts: 3,165	It was open on Saturdays and closed on Sundays.

09-03-2018, 04:51 AM	#8
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,945	I cannot see how Mel kept from going bankrupt if her closed on the week-ends, that is when they do most of their business! I've heard restaurant owners say, if you're going to maintain a restaurant you got to be there ALL THE TIME, almost literally! Although we do have a few restaurants around here that close on Monday.

09-04-2018, 01:35 AM	#11
TheLittleFaerie Member Senior Member Join Date: Oct 15, 2017 Posts: 1,945	I think Mondays are a good choice day to close since it's kinda a break from the busy week-end.

09-05-2018, 04:07 PM	#12
OneWayFilms Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Nov 02, 2005 Posts: 110	It was the law back then for certain types of businesses to be closed on Sunday's. It's called the Blue Law.

09-05-2018, 04:46 PM	#13
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 65,481	Back on the day Sundays were for going to church, visiting relatives for a nice meal or Mom making a big dinner! Taking a drive in the country. Stores and most restaurants were closed!

09-05-2018, 07:53 PM	#14
visaman666 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 818	Mel's was a trucker and factory diner. If the factories are closed on Sunday, there would be no business, so might as well close too.