Philadelphia

Order Up! South Philly's Iconic Melrose Diner Welcomes Back Customers After Fire

The renovated 24/ Melrose Diner welcomed its first customers since a fire earlier this summer

What to Know

  • A fire damaged the popular Melrose Diner in South Philadelphia in July.
  • Repairs have been made and the diner is reopening Wednesday.
  • Loyal customers were happy to be served a meal in the refurbished space.

Weeks after a fire closed a beloved South Philly eatery, the Melrose Diner reopened Wednesday.

The round-the-clock South Philly diner opened its doors at 8 a.m. Loyal patrons quickly filed inside and found a seat at the polished counter or found a renovated booth.

To celebrate the reopening, the diner is offering 50% off all purchases until 8 p.m. Wednesday.

It wasn't about the discount for many who ate at the Snyder Avenue staple Wednesday morning.

"We need to come back and support the people that have given us so much," customer Garland said. "The breakfast here is always good and you always feel welcomed."

The food isn't so bad either, according to the loyal customers.

"I enjoy coming here, I've always had a good meal," customer Yolanda Jones said.

The South Philly staple was closed since a July 24 fire. No injuries were reported and firefighters were able to quickly bring the blaze under control.

What could’ve been an electrical fire has shut down South Philly’s Melrose Diner. The owner hopes to be reopened next week, and his employees are working on Broad Street until that reopening.

Originally the hope was to reopen within a week, but it wound up taking weeks instead.

"Good things take their time," owner Michael Petrogiannis said while standing in his redone dining room.

While repairs were made to the diner, some employees worked at the Broad Street Diner at Broad and Ellsworth streets, which has the same owner.

Philadelphia’s Melrose Diner is temporarily closed after a fire damaged the popular South Philadelphia eatery. Many employees of the diner will work at the Broad Street Diner, which is also owned by their boss, until the Melrose Diner reopens.
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