After 56 Years, The Melrose Diner is Closed in Lakeview

After 56 years in Lakeview, the Melrose Restaurant — an iconic Boystown diner along Broadway — appears closed. The restaurant’s windows are papered up, the website has disappeared, and GrubHub no longer accepts orders. Located on the corner of Melrose and Broadway, ownership gave no indications that they were preparing to shutter.

The Melrose, 3233 N. Broadway St., was popular after Boystown bars closed and a community beacon supporting the neighborhood with fundraisers and other events. Beyond the typical dependable diner fare, it was also a very welcoming spot for local families, late-night revelers, and everyone else in between.

DNAinfo first noticed the shutter and noted how the restaurant was open 24 hours a day before they started closing at 10 p.m. Road construction along Broadway has been a problem this summer for local businesses, as owners have noted how it’s been hard for customers to find parking. Though it’s not exactly the same, there are a few similar restaurants located in the area, including Stella’s Diner and The Bagel. Clarke’s, another late-night diner, is also back in action at the corner of Belmont and Wilton. Before that restaurant took the Clarke’s name, it was a second location of the Melrose.

The Melrose checked out the boxes in terms of what makes a cliches greasy spoon right down to the dessert display case. It might be the time to mourn the classic neon and old-school script on the restaurant’s signs. The Melrose appears no more.

UPDATE: The Melrose is, indeed, done. There’s a “for rent” sign in the window. DNAinfo also called the restaurant up and a woman told the website that the property was vacant.