Was the diner closed on Sundays?

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by Bonniegirl

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!

I was born in 1980 and in my generation it was more common to eat OUT after church.... That was always the thing in my childhood anyway, we'd go to church, then afterwords we have a certain "after-church" restaurant we'd go to.

There is a dinner in the small town next to mine that opens half a day on Sun. b/c they do well with the church crowd that likes to eat there after church. I thought Mels might could be such an after-church type dinner.

The restaurant from childhood is still in business and going there today as an adult really makes me feel connected to childhood.

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I was born in 1980 and in my generation it was more common to eat OUT after church.
... That was always the thing in my childhood anyway, we'd go to church, then afterwords we have a certain "after-church" restaurant we'd go to.

We weren't really churchgoing people, only very occasionally did we go. But I remember once time going with my Aunt, Uncle and cousins and it was a Catholic Mass, which meant it went on forever, and I can remember just wanting t it to be over because we were going out for breakfast afterwards.

[funky-rat]

Originally Posted by JAlanRuss72

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.

There was a later season ep on last night where the girls are on some game show similar to Name That Tune. They mentioned the diner being closed on Sunday.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by funky-rat

There was a later season ep on last night where the girls are on some game show similar to Name That Tune. They mentioned the diner being closed on Sunday.

That was odd since most diners have people from church come in for brunch


But the vision I have of the surroundings outside Mel's diner was just a lot open space Seemed like the diner was in the middle of the desert

[TheLittleFaerie]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

That was odd since most diners have people from church come in for brunch


But the vision I have of the surroundings outside Mel's diner was just a lot open space Seemed like the diner was in the middle of the desert

I wish they'd shown more of the outside of the diner, b/c it always looked different, sometimes it looked like you could see other buildings and maybe a street in front of it, then other times it looked like there was a big wall in front of it.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by TheLittleFaerie

I wish they'd shown more of the outside of the diner, b/c it always looked different, sometimes it looked like you could see other buildings and maybe a street in front of it, then other times it looked like there was a big wall in front of it.

Was the characters ever outside in front of the diner?

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

That was odd since most diners have people from church come in for brunch


But the vision I have of the surroundings outside Mel's diner was just a lot open space Seemed like the diner was in the middle of the desert

Maybe the desert traffic wasn't that great on Sundays, hence why it was closed.

I'm sure if Mel thought he could make money, he would have opened up on Sundays!

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Dr. Thong

Maybe the desert traffic wasn't that great on Sundays, hence why it was closed.

I'm sure if Mel thought he could make money, he would have opened up on Sundays!

Maybe they was open very late on saturday night

[Dr. Thong]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Maybe they was open very late on saturday night

For the stoners.

[Heenan Fan]

FWIW, I worked at a couple of diners washing dishes when I was in high school. Both of them were closed on Sundays and Monday's only. The reasoning I was given was that those were the slowest days and they didn't make any money those days. Obviously, the location is a big factor on which days are best for business.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by Heenan Fan

FWIW, I worked at a couple of diners washing dishes when I was in high school. Both of them were closed on Sundays and Monday's only. The reasoning I was given was that those were the slowest days and they didn't make any money those days. Obviously, the location is a big factor on which days are best for business.

Based on the area outside Mel's Diner, I was surprised they had business on a Monday morning

[BensonFan]

Originally Posted by liane60

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

There were hardly ever any customers. It was a wonder he was open at all, let alone have three waitresses on the payroll.

[TVFactFan]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

There were hardly ever any customers. It was a wonder he was open at all, let alone have three waitresses on the payroll.

Yup just crazy Henry and maybe one other person

[sm95fan]

Originally Posted by BensonFan

There were hardly ever any customers. It was a wonder he was open at all, let alone have three waitresses on the payroll.

It seemed the only time the Diner was busy was when they were short staffed with Mel or one of the waitresses out.

[Bonniegirl]

Originally Posted by TVFactFan

Yup just crazy Henry and maybe one other person

Yeah. And Henry and the couple other regular customers complained about the food but kept coming back anyway.