Campus Court Fire (Mel's Diner Burnt Down)

[RangersFan]

Popular Mel’s Diner to reopen in new location

April 25, 2012 | Frances Barrick | The Record | LINK

KITCHENER — Two years after a massive fire destroyed a popular eatery in Waterloo, a new Mel’s Diner is slated to open in Kitchener.The Kitchener Mel’s, which could open in early May at the corner of Ottawa Street South and Westmount Road, is larger. But, the only other significant difference between the old and new diners is the addresses.
“It will have the same vibe, the same feel, the same layout, the same service and the same menu,” said owner Jerry Smith.

And work has started in re-building the Waterloo eatery that was a popular haunt of university students since 1995. It could reopen this fall as a second Mel’s location.

[waterloo_local]

I'm excited to go to Mel's Diner. I wonder if the Godfather burger will be @ this location too..... that thing was huuuuuge.

[panamaniac]

The last few posts be moved over to the Food and Dining Thread?

[RangersFan]

From May 24, 2012

[UrbanWaterloo]

Speaking yesterday with a KW4RENT Project Supervisor, he told me this is just a temporary build for 4 years to allow the businesses to start making money again. It's the developers intention to build a 25-storey mixed-use development here sometime mid-decade.

June 7, 2012

[UrbanWaterloo]

July 11, 2012

[RangersFan]

From reading the paper this morning it looks like University Vision Care will not be one of the businesses at this location when the plaza opens later this year.

[markster]

Article in question:

Rebuilding delays cause one tenant to leave Waterloo plaza

The Record | | | Link

Benny Afrouzi, owner of University Vision Care, said he was frustrated when plans for redevelopment lagged on.
“We’ve relocated,” Afrouzi said. “It’s been a lot of work.”
He has no plans to return now that he has set up shop in a new location at the corner of Columbia Street West and Fischer-Hallman Road.

Makes sense, as he's already set up shop elsewhere. Vincent Optical on King St is also run by someone who was at University Vision.

[Waterlooite]

Speaking yesterday with a KW4RENT Project Supervisor, he told me this is just a temporary build for 4 years to allow the businesses to start making money again. It's the developers intention to build a 25-storey mixed-use development here sometime mid-decade.

Maybe rebuilding is a condition to collect fire insurance money? Thoughts?

[KLM]

Maybe rebuilding is a condition to collect fire insurance money? Thoughts?

everything is possible,I wouldnt be surprised that`s the case.

just last saturday went to Mel`s and seems business as usual.I personally would like Mel`s to stay at new location and open old one as well.

[ViewFromThe42]

everything is possible,I wouldnt be surprised that`s the case.

just last saturday went to Mel`s and seems business as usual.I personally would like Mel`s to stay at new location and open old one as well.

The Kitchener and Waterloo locations will both be there, one is not replacing the other.

[UrbanWaterloo]

Building the roof...

August 2, 2012

[UrbanWaterloo]

The Firehall's Grand Opening is tonight & tomorrow:

September 5, 2012

[Osiris]

Clever, but if the past is any indication then this will have new owners/new branding inside 18 months.
Also do people do the whole bottle service thing around here? I'm so glad I graduated just before that became a thing.

[KevinL]

Nice pun on the club name - reminds me of the restaurant at Ottawa and Strasburg.

[Lugnut]

Clever, but if the past is any indication then this will have new owners/new branding inside 18 months.
Also do people do the whole bottle service thing around here? I'm so glad I graduated just before that became a thing.

This is the what, 3rd branding in 3 years? 140 West, Cameo, Firehall. Yup

[Osiris]

This is the what, 3rd branding in 3 years? 140 West, Cameo, Firehall. Yup

I didn't even get that far - I was remembering back in the early 2000's when it was Loose Change Louie's and then Fubar...

[markster]

I didn't even get that far - I was remembering back in the early 2000's when it was Loose Change Louie's and then Fubar...

Different location. LCL/Fubar was next to 140 West/Cameo/Johnny Fiasco's

[edit: aha, I remembered!]

[Lugnut]

Different location. LCL/Fubar was next to 140 West/Cameo/Johnny(...somthing)

Yup. Around the corner from 140/Cameo.

Fubar was where the fire originated.

[Greg Moore]

Originally it was Don Cherry's Grapevine, then part of it was Yuk-Yuk's for a while.