Local Eatery Celebrates 10th Year

By DARLA M. YOUNGS
COOPERSTOWN

Located on what was once considered a “bad luck corner,” Mel’s at 22 celebrates its 10-year anniversary later this week. As of Sunday, November 17, the popular Cooperstown restaurant at the corner of Chestnut and Main officially moves into its second decade serving classic American cuisine.

“My dad was presented with the opportunity to open his own restaurant and decided he was ready to make that step,” Alexandra Gunther remembered. “He called me up and said hey, do you want to move back home and open a restaurant?

“Seemed like a good idea,” she said.

Mel’s at 22 was established by Brian Wrubleski in 2014. The restaurant is named in memory of Brian’s wife, Maryellen, who had always loved his food and supported him in every aspect of life. She passed away in December 2013.

According to Brian, at the time he had been working in the culinary industry for 30 years, and he had been looking for a restaurant to call his own.