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Albertina Zazueta cooks up ‘the burger we drive back home for.’
John Hernandez | Miner
Oh that prices could be that low again. This is an ad that ran in the San Manuel Miner in the 1960s.
The original jukebox from Mel’s Diner now resides in Oracle at the Chaparral Market.
John Hernandez | Miner
The building that has been home to Mel’s Drive-in in San Manuel since the early 1970s turns 50 years old soon. Nothing much has changed in those 50 years. Its history is only part of the reason folks come back to visit. We’re pretty sure the burgers bring them back too. John Hernandez | Miner
Copper Area News
The building where Mel’s Drive-In is located is nearly 50 years old. According to Val Childers, it was built by members of the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints and became Weldon’s Drive-In. It was built with the idea that the young people in San Manuel had no place to go in the evenings. It gave them a place to “hang out.” It was also a place to get something good to eat.
Weldon’s had their grand opening June 4, 1966. Joe Arrington was the owner. Their grand opening ad offered milk shakes for 19¢ and the hours were 10 a.m. to midnight. That year they advertised hamburgers 5 for 99¢. You could get outside service at the window or come inside.
Being that it was located across the street from the high school, many students before the days of a closed campus used to eat lunch there. Students went there after school and after athletic games. Opposing teams from out of town often ate there after the games or picked up their food to go.
Weldon’s Drive-In had a pool table and a juke box. The original jukebox can be seen at the Chaparral in Oracle which is owned by the Childers.
In 1967 or 1968 Mel and Val Childers became partners in the business and began managing it. They bought out their partner five years later. It is believed that the drive-in changed names from Weldon’s to Mel’s in 1973. This is based on the research that showed that Weldon’s was still running ads in 1972. The ads stopped in 1973. As there was no advertising done by Mel’s, it appears that is when the name and ownership changed.
Three generations of the Childers family have worked at Mel’s: Val, her daughter Lisa Langhammer and granddaughter Amanda Alvarado who works there now. Albertina Zazueta has worked there since 1979 cooking up “the burger we drive back home for” as expressed by Mel’s T-shirts. Many former residents visiting family or friends in San Manuel often stop by Mel’s for a burger while in town.
The menu has changed over the years. Weldon’s was serving up menudo everyday for 45¢ a bowl and barbecued beef sandwiches in the 1960s. Now Mel’s offers up Mexican food, Navajo tacos, corn dogs, chilly willy’s and of course Mel’s burgers. Amanda said that the best selling item on the menu is the jumbo bacon cheeseburger.
Weldon’s/Mel’s Drive-In has been serving up good food continuously since 1966 making it one of the longest lasting businesses to operate at the same location in San Manuel.
Now we wonder if they will have to change the design on their T-shirt.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
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