Listening to music playing from a jukebox, sitting in a swivel bar stool or 50s-style booth and enjoying classic diner dishes, many fond memories remain of Mel’s. A long-time institution in Sackville, New Brunswick, Mel’s Tea Room dates back over a century. What started as a combo fruit shop and ice cream parlour evolved into a quintessential diner and after-school hangout for local teens. Although its doors are no longer open, this long-time family business operated through four generations.

Setting up shop

Mel’s Tea Room began in 1919 when Melbourne Goodwin (a.k.a. “Mel”) opened a shop on Bridge Street in downtown Sackville, New Brunswick. Initially, the business was a fruit shop and ice cream parlour, offering a variety of sweet treats. Over time, Mel’s became many other things, including a magazine stand, a coffee shop, a bus depot, a diner, a convenience store and a hangout for locals (especially for students of Mount Allison University).

In the 1940s, the business relocated after Goodwin purchased the nearby historic property Cahill Block at 17 Bridge Street. The building was originally constructed in 1913 for businesses operated by C. W. Cahill, so Goodwin aimed to maintain its integrity during renovations. He installed 21 sets of booths, a soda fountain and swivel stool seating along the counter to transform the ground floor into Mel’s Tea Room diner. On the exterior, he added a neon sign, marking Mel’s location since January 1945.

Changing hands

Mel’s Tea Room was owned and operated by four generations of the Goodwin family across nine decades. However, in 2012, Melbourne’s grandson, Roger Goodwin, decided to sell the family business to a couple, Mikalauskas and Lara Ross.

In late 2018, Mel’s was acquired again, this time by husband and wife, Dave and Wendy Epworth. Dave and Wendy grew up hanging out at the diner after school; in fact, it’s where the couple met for the first time. When the opportunity presented itself to own and carry on the tradition of Mel’s, they jumped at the chance. In fact, Dave was quoted in a 2019 Saltwire article that growing up, he always said he would own the business someday. The couple made minor changes like tweaks to the menu and adding seating, but were careful to protect the diner’s original atmosphere.

End of an era

Sadly, shortly after taking over the business, the Epworths were hit hard by the pandemic. In 2022, they saw additional hardship when the building’s leaky roof collapsed, which meant another long-term closure. When a new owner purchased the building that same year, they were given a short time to get back on their feet or find a buyer for the business. Unfortunately, in October 2022, they were forced to close Mel’s Tea Room for good.

Before closing, Dave and Wendy were able to sell some parts of the business, like the famous neon sign, which is now a decor piece in the Dorchester Jail bed and breakfast.

Since the closure of Mel’s, the building became a Korean restaurant, Oh! Chicken.

Note: A representative of Mel’s Tea Room was unavailable for an interview; the above article is based on third-party research.

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