A fast-casual offshoot of the iconic Original Mels Diner is being planned near Sacramento’s Aggie Square.
Local architect Michael Martin is proposing a new Mels Diner Express location in a former Subway space at 3000 Stockton Blvd, according to the Sacramento Business Journal.
Martin told the publication he plans to use the entire 1,250-square-foot building, with outdoor seating also under consideration pending landlord approval. Plans are expected to be submitted by the end of January 2026, with a midyear opening targeted if approved.
Unlike traditional Mels Diner locations, the Express concept would operate as a walk-up, to-go–focused restaurant, designed for speed and convenience. While a full menu has not been announced, Mels is known for its classic American diner fare, including burgers, milkshakes, chili fries, and breakfast staples like Ghirardelli Chocolate Chip Hotcakes.
The original concept began in 1947 as Mels Drive-Ins in San Francisco, founded by David “Mel” Weiss and Harold Dobbs. Inspired by Southern California car-hop restaurants, the drive-ins quickly multiplied, eventually growing to more than 35 locations at their peak in the 1960s, including well-known sites in Sacramento and Stockton.
The Original Mels Diner currently operates multiple locations across California, and the Express model appears aimed at adapting the brand for smaller footprints and high-traffic areas.
