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Sometimes it takes a trip off of the main roads to find the true treasures. In East Peoria, that means traveling to Mel’s Café.
Mel’s Café is the child of Mel and Kimmie Christianson. It was originally located in Peoria, but is now open in East Peoria at 520 E. Bloomington Road.
“The guy that owned the building in Peoria, he sold it out to O’Brien Steel,” Kimmie Christianson said. “I have my customers who followed me over, and then I have a lot of (local customers) really happy to have a café in their neighborhood.”
According to Christianson, she has already seen indicators of the diner’s success in East Peoria.
“I’m finding out that what I used to order over in Peoria, I have to triple it here. It’s like every time I turn around we’re out,” Christianson said. “I’ve got it to where I’ve got two frozen delivery trucks a week and two dry trucks a week, and I really need more.”
After being a waitress for 38 years and gaining familiarity with the industry, Christianson and her husband were able to open her own establishment.
“I’ve just always wanted my own (café), and the opportunity just kind of fell in my lap to do it,” Christianson said.
Christianson originally had the opportunity to open the restaurant at the current East Peoria spot but chose the location in Peoria due to sentimental connections she had with the property.
“I chose the restaurant in Peoria because I had worked that restaurant for years. Since 1986, I’ve worked it off and on as a waitress,” Christianson said. “My mom lived upstairs and my dad used to eat down there, three meals a day if they were open late enough.”
In a day where chain restaurants dominate the food service industry, Christianson believes people continue coming to diners, like Mel’s Café, for a certain experience the chains cannot offer.
“I think it is more personable, more friendly, more of a homey atmosphere, where people feel like they can come in and sit and talk and enjoy their self,” Christianson said. “I’ve had a lot of repeat customers.”
Kay McGrane of Washington is one of those customers.
“I know everybody that’s in here,” McGrane said. “It’s a neighborhood coffee shop.”
McGrane has been a customer of Mel’s since it was open in Peoria and believes that it has all the ingredients of a first-rate diner.
Sometimes it takes a trip off of the main roads to find the true treasures. In East Peoria, that means traveling to Mel’s Café.
Mel’s Café is the child of Mel and Kimmie Christianson. It was originally located in Peoria, but is now open in East Peoria at 520 E. Bloomington Road.
“The guy that owned the building in Peoria, he sold it out to O’Brien Steel,” Kimmie Christianson said. “I have my customers who followed me over, and then I have a lot of (local customers) really happy to have a café in their neighborhood.”
According to Christianson, she has already seen indicators of the diner’s success in East Peoria.
“I’m finding out that what I used to order over in Peoria, I have to triple it here. It’s like every time I turn around we’re out,” Christianson said. “I’ve got it to where I’ve got two frozen delivery trucks a week and two dry trucks a week, and I really need more.”
After being a waitress for 38 years and gaining familiarity with the industry, Christianson and her husband were able to open her own establishment.
“I’ve just always wanted my own (café), and the opportunity just kind of fell in my lap to do it,” Christianson said.
Christianson originally had the opportunity to open the restaurant at the current East Peoria spot but chose the location in Peoria due to sentimental connections she had with the property.
“I chose the restaurant in Peoria because I had worked that restaurant for years. Since 1986, I’ve worked it off and on as a waitress,” Christianson said. “My mom lived upstairs and my dad used to eat down there, three meals a day if they were open late enough.”
In a day where chain restaurants dominate the food service industry, Christianson believes people continue coming to diners, like Mel’s Café, for a certain experience the chains cannot offer.
“I think it is more personable, more friendly, more of a homey atmosphere, where people feel like they can come in and sit and talk and enjoy their self,” Christianson said. “I’ve had a lot of repeat customers.”
Kay McGrane of Washington is one of those customers.
“I know everybody that’s in here,” McGrane said. “It’s a neighborhood coffee shop.”
McGrane has been a customer of Mel’s since it was open in Peoria and believes that it has all the ingredients of a first-rate diner.
“Cleanliness, the taste of the food, and the waitresses, how they approach you,” McGrane said of why she keeps coming back.
The food is something Christianson takes value in, making some of the items on the menu herself.
“A lot of our food is all homemade. I make my own biscuits,” Christianson said. “All my specials, most of them are homemade. My chicken and noodles, I make homemade noodles. Goulash I make. I make the beef stew myself.”
Christianson believes Mel’s has everything a diner should have in order to be the best possible restaurant it can be.
“I think when the owner is out, and mingles with the customers, and talks to them, it makes it good.” Christianson said, “You’ve got friendly waitresses who are making sure your coffee cup is full and being pleasant to you.”
Mel’s Café is open seven days a week, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m, and if you need a suggestion on what to order, ask the person who visits upwards of 10 times a week.
“Fried chicken,” McGrane said.
