Melba’s in Mid-City Is Expanding
Melba’s in Mid-City is known for their po-boys, daquiris, and rooftop patio open 24 hours. Located at the corner of Elysian Fields and North Claiborne Avenues, the restaurant is planning to open a second location on Tulane Avenue.
Melba’s opened its doors to customers in 2012 by owners Scott and Jane Wolfe. It is described as a colorful place that serves a cross-section of New Orleans people. It hosted Colson Whitehead, winner of the Pulitzer Prize and National Book Award and Sarah M. Broom author of “The Yellow House.” It has also been visited by the Clinton’s during their Too Small to Fail campaign.
It came about after their other successful ventures. Their first bout of success came in 1982 when they borrowed $10,000 from family to purchase Wagner’s a bankrupt grocery store in one of New Orleans’ poorest neighborhoods. From this came Wagner’s Meat which is now a local chain in New Orleans.
The new location will be patterned after the original Melba’s on a smaller scale without a laundromat. An old building that was formerly a car wash will be converted into the new restaurant. If all goes as planned, the new location will open within two months.
They will still be serving the same good food 24 hours a day including po-boys, breakfast dishes and breakfast sandwiches, plates like stuffed bell peppers and smothered cabbage and fried chicken and wings.
The new location should be a success, especially due to its popularity and great location. The owner said that the area is what drew him to the location on Tulane. It is a mix of neighborhoods that also includes the medical complex which is also open 24 hours.
“The demographics are great, but Tulane Avenue needs more restaurants,” Wolfe said.
