Mel's Commissary to stop lunch service

A lunch-only commissary in downtown Carrboro is changing its focus to catering.

Posted 7:24 p.m. Oct 2, 2017 — Updated 7:24 p.m. Oct 2, 2017

Kathy Hanrahan

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A lunch-only commissary in downtown Carrboro is changing its focus to catering.

Al Bowers, the owner of Al's Burger Shack in Chapel Hill, and his wife, Melody, opened Mel's Commissary and Lucheonette in March. The space, at 109 W. Main St., also served as a commissary kitchen for Al's Burger Shack, Burger Truck and AlMel's Catering company.

"When we decided to open Mel’s, it was because we needed more prep space for Al’s Burger Shack (Franklin Street location) and our growing catering business. As the space came together, we thought we could also open and serve weekday lunches that would allow me to share my mother’s recipes. I hope I did her justice," Melody Bowers wrote on the company's website Monday.

Since Mel's opened, the couple has opened a second location of Al's Burger Shack in Southern Village.

"We are blown away every day and feel so fortunate to be a part of a community that supports local businesses," Bowers wrote. "However, with the growth of our catering business and this second Burger Shack location, Al and I have had to reassess our family life and business model. We have made the very difficult decision to wind down the lunch service at Mel’s."

Mel's last lunch service will be Friday, Oct. 13.

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