Mel’s Cafe will become a new eatery, nearly half the restaurants in Dairy Market leave

The iconic Mel’s Cafe, off Main Street in the Starr Hill neighborhood, is gone. After Mel Walker died in May, his Southern comfort food restaurant closed and never reopened.

But there is about to be new life in the space. The Daily Progress has a beautifully written report on the imminent arrival of a new restaurant to the spaceship-like building for its subscribers — read it here. The new place will be called Diilishus Fish & Chik’n, and it will serve Midwestern-style, fried fish, chicken, burgers and hotdogs. There will also be soft serve ice cream, and a few other menu items.

“We’re not trying to take Mel’s place, which is something, from my understanding, that was iconic in the community,” Eric Goodwin told The Daily Progress. “We’re not trying to take his place. We’re not trying to do anything to supplement the legacy that he had established already. We’re just trying to establish our own.”

Wanna check it out? It’s unclear when the restaurant will open, but Goodwin will be hosting a “taste of what’s to come” event tomorrow — Saturday, Sept. 7 — from noon to 5 p.m., he told The Daily Progress. They’ll have free samples.

Speaking of restaurants, a bunch of them just left the Dairy Market — five of its 12 to be exact. The South & Central steakhouse closed, along with 434th Street, Al Basha, Citizen Burger Bar and Grn Burger. Eleva Coffee and the gift shop Brigit & Bess are also gone.

Why? It can be a rough space to make a profit in, several told The Daily Progress. The newspaper’s subscribers can read its report on the departures here. Among other issues, the leases require the businesses remain open and staffed whenever The Dairy Market is open. That typically requires restaurants to hire more staff. 

The Dairy Market’s owners are re-grouping. They plan to bring in different kinds of restaurants and businesses — add a kid’s zone to attract and keep families longer, and something they’re calling “dinertainment” in the space that housed South & Central, which sounds like a place for adults to play. You can learn more about the new plans in this NBC29 report.

Drive on Hydraulic Road? Look out for speed zone cameras

In other news, the Albemarle County Police Department is working to slow drivers passing Albemarle High School on Hydraulic Road. The department has installed two speed check cameras, which will automatically issue $100 tickets to anyone driving more than 10 mph over the speed limit. The automatic citations begin Oct. 21.

I hope you all have a great weekend!
Jessie Higgins, Managing Editor