The Mel-O-Dee

This iconic legacy diner was opened in 1955 by owners Daniel and Betty Pischer.

The Pischer family were experienced in the restaurant business, having owned two separate establishments in Chicago before relocating to Sarasota. They purchased the land in 1954 and built the restaurant with 100 seat capacity which grew to 300 seats to accommodate hungry guests.

The site of many family dinners, the diner was also the social hub of holiday events, pageants, club meetings and more. A 1960 article in the Herald Tribune describes one of the unique elements of the lazy Susan placed in the center of the table which held such treats as spiced apple rings, relishes and candied watermelon rind. Operated by the Pischer family until their retirement in 1973, and continuing to serve the community until it closed in 2003, the building has sat secured but vacant for the last 19 years.

The Mel-O-Dee retains its midcentury modern details with a Polynesian influence, featuring a moderately pitched gable roof projecting an outrigger ridge beam above the entry. The interior was gutted several years ago and unfortunately the original neon sign adjacent to 41 was destroyed by a vehicle in 2021. The current owner has the property listed on the market for $1 million and has already sold the adjacent vacant lots to developers. There have been preservation inquiries, but the high price tag has presented an as-yet insurmountable obstacle to its rebirth.