Demolition begins at iconic Melrose Diner in South Philadelphia

It is the end of an era. Demolition has begun on the iconic Melrose Diner in South Philadelphia. The property on the Triangle block of West Pass Yonk and Snyder Avenues and 15th St will be flattened to make way for an apartment building. Developers are saving space for a smaller diner on the ground floor. Action is reporter Corey Davis is live in South Philadelphia with reaction from longtime customers who already missed their breakfast spot. Corey. Hey good morning. Yeah, people miss it so much. The eggs and food from all times here, especially lunch and dinner as well. You can see behind us just what is remaining here of what used to be. The Merrill's diner people always walk by here saying that they remember all of the good times that they spent here at this hangout spot. The loyal customers are telling us that they will miss the atmosphere and the food. Had the best fries in the South Philly area. I'm upset about it. It's sad to see it. It didn't need to happen, I think, but you know, apartments are the main concern in Philly. This was a jet. This was a place for cakes, coffee and camaraderie, and now it's gone. What they're planning to do by putting the tallest building here six stories and have no parking for it is going to just make traffic around here. Much worse. We already have traffic issues here. And this is the block of West Pass Young Snyder Ave and 15th St. More than 90 apartments with a proposed roof deck for residents are coming to this location where the diner has been a fixture since 1956. People have been taking photos out here since the demolition began yesterday. Memories go way back at this hangout spot, not only for the breakfast crowd, but also customers at all times of day. The diner did suffer a couple of setbacks over the last few years. There was a fire in 2019, but it reopened six weeks later. The fire that did them in, though, was the one that happened in July of last year. The landmark didn't reopen and the demolition permits will fight were being hailed to make way for a six story apartment building. Action News sat down with the owner a couple of months ago. He says Melrose Diner will return as part of this new development. It'll just be smaller and reimagined. Since the fire happened, I decide to demolish the building and put the apartment above and put the Melrose Diner back on the ground floor again. Yeah, so also on that ground floor floor were told that there's going to be space for outdoor dining as well as some other businesses on this property when everything is all said and done, it could take 18 months to two years for that construction to happen. The owner did say that he plans on incorporating Melrose back into the name of this development to pay tribute to the iconic diner reporting live here in South Philadelphia. Corey Davis Channel 6 Action News.