Kiss My Grits

The city of Phoenix is famous for some amazing things, but many of them pass or are forgotten over the years. There is one small local landmark that is still holding its place on Grand Avenue near 19^th Avenue.

I’m talking about the famous Mel’s Diner that is home to some of the most delicious grits this side of the Mississippi, and possibly east as well.

This small diner has been a staple in the area for years and was actually home to a show called “Alice” that ran from the late 70s until the early 80s.

Although the show only runs on late night TV, it is still a tribute to a great area that is starting to make a comeback along the Grand Avenue corridor.

This “comeback” has been in the works for years, but even with the slow economy, it is still slowly growing and there has been a resurgence that other parts of town are not seeing.

One example of this resurgence is the once famous Oasis Hotel which is in the process of transforming into an artist-friendly apartment complex. This is exactly what is needed to bring a community together and create a great place to live: build from the ground up instead of from the top.

I am excited to see where the Grand Avenue corridor is currently headed and cannot wait to see what it looks like in a few years. The CenPho area has really become a hotbed for artists and living, so it will be great to see what becomes of the neighboring areas.

Of course, if you’ve read previous blog posts, you know that I think we need to have a trolly on Grand Ave.

But, I want to know. What would you like to see on Grand Ave?