Last Call for Mel's Lounge

Welcome to the new SB where estranged corporations own the property and flush tradition out the door in search of more money.

Greek Deli, Mom's...and now Mel's...The new Santa Barbara indeed....

Cabo used to be the same way, now look at it...corporate owned.

I happen to know that Hughes Holding company is locally owned, not that that means anything.

I'm sorry to hear that Mel's is closing and I hope that property owners will stop being so greedy. The best store downtown and in La Cumbre Plaza have had their rents raised so high that they've all closed. Only the tourists can afford to shop in the new stores they're opening!

Another doomed old friend and tradition to add to the long and growing list of long gone favourites : The Earthling, The Copper Coffee Pot, Otts, Talk of The Town, Hughes,Andera's, Napoleon Cafe and Bakery ( oh that fragrant bread, warm and freshly baked), Museum of Art Cafe, Sambo's ( one left at the Beach), Gervasoni's ( remember their beautiful Christmas display?), Tecalote and all those special shops in El Paseo and the wonderful ambience that has vanished with them, Pier 1, Pep Boys, Eddie Bauer, Nature Company, Body Works, Crabtree and Evelyn, and so on and so forth. Sigh. But hey, we have a Starbuck's on every block and perhaps some more so life must be good.

At least we'll have one last Fiesta to celebrate at the one and only place that did not add a cover charge to capitalize on the Fies-ivities...and definitely the coolest, most local - friendly place to end up parade night.

Hey so what? Soon only gang bangers and tourists will have the run of downtown. Who wants to even go down there anymore anyway - you can get the same chain stores in any (and every) city.

I can't imagine anything more depressing than losing Mel's so that one rich jerk can get even richer. I hope he is reading this.

The sad thing is, it will probably be replaced with another woman's clothing store selling the same sweatshop-produced glittery t-shirts and jeans at movie star prices that the other 500 or so clothing stores on State sell.

Does this town have any sense of tradition or history at all? Sad sad sad. I was born and raised here and I don't even recognize my hometown anymore.

It really makes me sick.

I only make it home to my native SB maybe every 5 years or so, and from the business closures to the residential "improvements" citywide, I have to say I prefer parts of Los Angeles... and I hate Los Angeles, so that's pretty bad. The very things that made Santa Barbara the best of global cities have largely disappeared; these are the very things that it would seem drew the people and companies to town who in turn have changed it's face. What can be done ? New Zealand...

Greed always seems to triumph over all. How sad. I say we boycott whatever store takes Mel's place. I know I will.

Mel's always reminded me of all of the neighborhood bars in my home town - San Francisco, particularly when Sonny was bartendering. Had a farewell champagne split at Mel's over the weekend and bought their "So Long" T-Shirt! Thanks for the memories.

well i just hope it takes a yr for them to find someone to rent it . then i hope they stay there about 3 to 4 months . and again wait for another long time to get someone to rent it again . and on and on . just like pier one imports . they had some sucker to rent that at twice the rent as pier one but they backed out . now they get no rent money . i guess no rent money is better then a half way decent income .the higher you go with the rent the more likely you will have a long wait to get suckers . and the more likely they will fall on thier face and have to bail out on them . bruce m . santa barbara

I actually missed this article, when it ran, and found it after reading the "Me'ls Memories" from 9/4/08.

When I next raise a glass, it shall be in a toast to yet another cherished place--the likes of which fade away every year. I hope that Elsie's and the Sportsman hang on, as every Fiesta seems to make it harder to enjoy downtown, and the divy, "hidden" places are dropping like flies.

As Simon & Garfunkel sang: "seeking out the poorer quarters, where the ragged people go, Looking for the places only they would know".