THE HISTORY OF
THE EARLY YEARS
BACK TO THE CALIFORNIA PINK AND TEAL COLOUR SCHEME
The Leong family saw an opportunity in the big, rundown building that was the former home of an unprofitable restaurant and committed all of its time, energy and resources to the creation of a new California-style concept.
The parents, Ming and Sue, worked in the kitchen to help with prep and two of the sons, Wayne and Kent, worked hard to create the concept, facilities and operational structure.
When the Leong family walked onto the site for the first time, they were faced with a 20-foot tree growing in the middle of the dining room, a large stone fireplace in a much smaller lounge, wall-to-wall carpeting and a Spanish feel. The site required extensive renovations to become the original version of Melrose—the first of many renovations to take place over the life of the business.
The venue was named after the trendy Melrose Avenue in LA, and, true to its namesake, its original design was a California pink and teal colour scheme, big windows, six electronic dartboards, pool table, karaoke and NTN, the interactive trivia game.
A commitment to innovation means a commitment to being a cut above the rest. Investing in the ‘latest and greatest’ in everything from fixtures to appliances has always been a Melrose trademark, along with constant renovations that no other venue in Calgary can keep up with. Guests can always be assured they are enjoying cutting-edge interiors, the latest in electronics and a truly unique entertainment experience.
GROWING PAINS
EVOLVE FROM THE ORIGINAL CONCEPT IN SPRING OF 1996
When the time came to evolve from the original concept in Spring of 1996, Melrose underwent another major overhaul in the dining room and on the main patio. A projected one-month project took four months to finish, as the dining room was completely gutted and architectural problems dictated the excavation of an entirely new basement.
Team members had to travel from the kitchen to the lounge on planks that were placed over a large gaping hole and this period of Melrose’s evolution was characterized by dust, vandals and noise.
When the dust settled, the only original surface that remained in the area was the enormous skylight overhead.
The resulting space was an architectural feat of sophistication with tindlestone arches salvaged from a downtown historical site, Art Deco wrought iron fixtures and sculptures, granite countertops, high tech cable lighting and natural wood tabletops.
THE RED MILE
BECOMING THE HEART OF THE RED MILE
When the Calgary Flames battled their way to the Stanley Cup Finals in 2004, fans gravitated to 17th Avenue, packing restaurants and bars to cheer on their hockey heroes.
Located at the centre of the cup fever was Melrose Café & Bar, which welcomed thousands of patrons into its lounge to watch the games and guaranteed its place in local history by becoming the Heart of the Red Mile.
The Stanley Cup press coverage might have vocalized it, but Calgarians have always known Melrose occupies a special place in Calgary’s entertainment scene.
COWBOYS CASINO
MELROSE OPENS IN COWBOYS CASINO
After 20 years of service in the Calgary community, Melrose opened a second location next to the new Cowboys Nightclub inside the Vegas-style Cowboys Casino complex. Melrose looks forward to many more exciting years with both locations!