After their first restaurant had a successful year in Tipton, Mel and Naz Veliu have opened their second Mel's Diner in California. With their focus being on great service and quality, homemade food, Mel's Diner (California) is located at 407 West Buchanan and on Highway 50 in Tipton.
Mel said he was born and raised in Macedonia (formerly Yugoslavia) and moved to the United States in 1988. In 1992 he married Naz and in 1993 he opened his first restaurant in Cambridge, Ill. Due to a family medical challenge, they sold the restaurant to family and moved to Chicago for treatments. While in Chicago, Mel and Naz worked in some of the best restaurants in the city growing in their experience and ability. Last year the opportunity to own their own restaurant again opened up in Tipton and they have had success there while hoping for the same in California.
"Altogether we have 38 employees at both restaurants," Mel said. "We are about creating jobs and employing people. I worked my entire life in restaurants and Naz was raised in the restaurant business. We offer breakfast all day, homemade specials, lunch and dinner. We bake fresh pies."
For more of this story check out the June 29 issue of the California Democrat.