"Mel's Diner" From The Sitcom 'Alice' Being Made Into A Tourist Attraction - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Brian Damage · 12-22-2010, 10:55 PM

A diner that inspired both a feature film and a television sitcom has received a makeover that pays tribute to its role in pop culture, USA Today reports.

The site of the restaurant that inspired Mel's Diner on the CBS sitcom "Alice" will become a real-life tourist attraction, the story says.

The series, which starred Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday and ran from 1976-85, was based on the Martin Scorsese film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." In both the TV show and movie, the action was set in Phoenix's Mel's Diner.

Emmanouil Stivaktakis and his wife bought the place six years ago, but it's only been recently that they embraced the history of the restaurant.The waitresses began dressing like the show, they decorated the walls with clippings about the TV show and they are planning for a memorabilia case.

Stivaktakis has rechristened the place as the "world famous" Mel's Diner, hoping, "Maybe the people will like it more."

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/

catlover79 · 12-23-2010, 03:19 AM

Very cool!!! I just hope they have a giant picture of Vic Tayback in his "Mel" getup - as a tribute to both the man and the character.

afijamesy2k · 12-26-2010, 02:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catlover79

Very cool!!! I just hope they have a giant picture of Vic Tayback in his "Mel" getup - as a tribute to both the man and the character.

Plus put the kitchen the same as it was from 1979-85.

catlover79 · 12-29-2010, 06:16 AM

That would be an awesome place to visit.

ThomasE · 01-10-2011, 11:33 PM

Oooh! I wanna go. Must plan for that!

catlover79 · 04-10-2011, 12:35 AM

Let's just hope their chili is better than Mel's!!

magellan333 · 04-10-2011, 06:20 PM

Really cool information, but the original movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" was set in Tuscon, not Phoenix. I wonder why the producers of the show moved the city.

catlover79 · 04-10-2011, 06:23 PM

Your guess is as good as mine.

FredScuttle · 07-02-2011, 12:43 PM

I've never been inside, so I don't know if it looks anything like Mel's (I doubt it

) but I like this sign Lester's Diner in Bryan OH has:

12-22-2010, 10:55 PM	#1
Brian Damage I'm Rich Bitch Forum Icon Join Date: Feb 03, 2002 Location: What Ain't No Country I Ever Heard Of...They Speak English in What? Posts: 63,107	"Mel's Diner" From The Sitcom 'Alice' Being Made Into A Tourist Attraction A diner that inspired both a feature film and a television sitcom has received a makeover that pays tribute to its role in pop culture, USA Today reports. The site of the restaurant that inspired Mel's Diner on the CBS sitcom "Alice" will become a real-life tourist attraction, the story says. The series, which starred Linda Lavin and Polly Holliday and ran from 1976-85, was based on the Martin Scorsese film "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore." In both the TV show and movie, the action was set in Phoenix's Mel's Diner. Emmanouil Stivaktakis and his wife bought the place six years ago, but it's only been recently that they embraced the history of the restaurant.The waitresses began dressing like the show, they decorated the walls with clippings about the TV show and they are planning for a memorabilia case. Stivaktakis has rechristened the place as the "world famous" Mel's Diner, hoping, "Maybe the people will like it more." http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/ Attached Images
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12-23-2010, 03:19 AM	#2
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Very cool!!! I just hope they have a giant picture of Vic Tayback in his "Mel" getup - as a tribute to both the man and the character.
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01-10-2011, 11:33 PM	#5
ThomasE Member Moderator Forum Fanatic Join Date: Apr 04, 2000 Location: New York, New York, U.S.A. Posts: 10,857	Oooh! I wanna go. Must plan for that!
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07-02-2011, 12:43 PM	#9
FredScuttle Member Frequent Poster Join Date: Oct 31, 2005 Posts: 477	I've never been inside, so I don't know if it looks anything like Mel's (I doubt it ) but I like this sign Lester's Diner in Bryan OH has: Attached Images

12-29-2010, 06:16 AM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	That would be an awesome place to visit.

04-10-2011, 12:35 AM	#6
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Let's just hope their chili is better than Mel's!!

04-10-2011, 06:20 PM	#7
magellan333 Member Forum Regular Join Date: Jun 26, 2003 Location: Chattanooga, TN Posts: 822	Really cool information, but the original movie "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" was set in Tuscon, not Phoenix. I wonder why the producers of the show moved the city.

04-10-2011, 06:23 PM	#8
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,382	Your guess is as good as mine.