Melrose cafe abruptly closes doors after 23 years, shifts focus to casino location

[rob the knob]

A mainstay on the 17th Avenue bar strip for decades has closed its doors.

Melrose Cafe & Bar announced Sunday that the 17th Avenue S.W. location will be permanently closed to put focus instead on their newer Cowboys Casino location near the Stampede grounds.

“We would like to thank all our patrons, suppliers, and partners for the opportunity to be a fixture in the Calgary community,” said the statement on the restaurant’s website, which was tweeted around 10 a.m. Sunday.

Fans of the bar and other locals tweeted surprise at the seemingly abrupt shuttering of the fixture on the so-called Red Mile.

More to come.

[Masked Bandit]

Wow! That's a pretty big change down there. Where will all the straight-pipe HD douchebags go now?

[FraserB]

Originally posted by Masked Bandit
Wow! That's a pretty big change down there. Where will all the straight-pipe HD douchebags go now?

They've already migrated to Cowboys Casino.

[ExtraSlow]

There was some talk from teh community that the number of bars and restaurants on that road was unsustainable. Wonder what will take over that space, it's some prime real estate.

Actually, I wonder if the real estate value wasn't what prompted this change? Sell that valuable land, move to another spot where they'll be about as busy, profit!

[e31]

CONFIDENTIAL!
City of Calgary proposed development Master Plan

Step 1. Create new zoning bylaw (B1C-YC1E) bicycle use only.
Step 2. Rezone any properties as "Bicycle only" the instant they are vacated.
Step 3. Put on Purple Rain record and rub ones' own titties till they ache.

[btimbit]

Their best chef left in 2009, writing has been on the wall since imo

[kaput]

.

[codetrap]

Originally posted by btimbit
Their best chef left in 2009, writing has been on the wall since imo

The writing is on the wall for 5 years? Really? I think you don't really understand what that phrase actually means. :P

[RY213]

Weird timing with all the NFL games right now. You would think they would at least wait until after Super Bowl.

[Tik-Tok]

Crazy. Only been once or twice in the past 15 years, but was a regular before that. Always started the night there before heading down to 11th, or 1st.

[cam_wmh]

Originally posted by FraserB
They've already migrated to Hudson's, or if they didn't feel like making the jaunt from the burbs, to Shark Club it is.

Fixed that for you.

[rage2]

Have you guys been down to restaurants on 17th since the flood? It's crazy but it feels like every place has lost 70% of its business. I can show up at any place at noon and get seats now. Used to have to show up at 11:15 to get perv row seats on the balcony at Melrose.

[btimbit]

Originally posted by codetrap
The writing is on the wall for 5 years? Really? I think you don't really understand what that phrase actually means. :P

It's gone downhill since, yeah I know what it means :p that's been their impending doom, so to speak. Then the floods sealed the deal.

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by ExtraSlow
There was some talk from teh community that the number of bars and restaurants on that road was unsustainable. Wonder what will take over that space, it's some prime real estate.

A ridiculous thought given how much development is going on in the Beltline. Things are becoming more sustainable than ever for bars and restaurants down there. More competition yes, but considerably more local residents to draw from.

Actually, I wonder if the real estate value wasn't what prompted this change? Sell that valuable land, move to another spot where they'll be about as busy, profit!

The value certainly had something to do with it. If they own it then it is far more valuable to sell or lease to something that isn't a dated and stagnant brand. The north side of 17th is the most valuable bar and restaurant space in the city. If they leased it, better to focus on the casino than to continue paying the highest rent around when their popularity has dropped.

It's certainly a prime spot, wont be empty for long.

[malbadon]

It seems bizarre they didn't sell the restaurant as-is to someone else to take it over the lease.

[know1edge]

They own the land

[kertejud2]

Originally posted by malbadon
It seems bizarre they didn't sell the restaurant as-is to someone else to take it over the lease.

I'm assuming it is because that would involve selling their brand, which they are transferring to the Cowboys Casino. However it isn't the greatest brand anymore so new people would rather change it to something new as well.

[max_boost]

It has been our after hockey destination so this kinda sucks as they were one of the late night places around.

[mr2mike]

Shifting focus on their other location is a front. There's other reasons. Most known places have one last hurah so not sure the deal here.
Hope the serving staff didn't get screwed over.

[toastgremlin]

Man, I wouldn't want to be trying to sell a used E34 or Titan right now..