The Journey of Cleveland's Eatery Melt Bar & Grilled: From Inception to Expansion (2006-2017)
The story of Melt Bar & Grilled begins in 2006, when founder Matt Fish opened the first location in Lakewood, Ohio.
With a passionate vision to elevate the humble gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, Matt Fish captivated Cleveland with his indulgent and imaginative menu. The restaurant quickly became a local favorite, celebrated not only for its delicious offerings but also for its quirky and welcoming atmosphere.
By combining nostalgia with creative twists, Melt managed to build a strong brand identity that appealed to a wide audience. The original location’s overwhelming success paved the way for expansion.
Over the next decade, Melt Bar & Grilled grew into a regional chain, opening multiple locations across Ohio. The brand’s unique concept resonated well, and each new opening was met with excitement from eager fans.
Key Expansion Milestones:
- Concept Origin: Melt Bar & Grilled originated as a simple grilled cheese and craft beer eatery, captivating fans with its indulgent approach to comfort food.
- Franchise Growth: Over the years, Melt expanded beyond Cleveland, focusing on a three-unit concept designed for broader franchise growth.
- Menu Expansion: The restaurant continuously evolved its menu, adding luxe versions of traditional favorites such as pistachio cream, pancake stacks, and fast-casual comfort-food-bowl concepts.
- Location Highlights: As part of its strategic expansion, Melt opened branches in new locations such as the Van Aken District and JACK Thistledown Racino, strengthening its market presence.
- Cultural Impact: Melt’s unique offerings and vibrant ambiance have been featured widely in restaurant stories and the nation’s restaurant news, making it a game-changer in the fast-casual dining sector.
From its humble beginnings in Lakewood, Melt Bar & Grilled achieved significant growth and widespread acclaim between 2006 and 2017. In this period, it not only expanded its physical presence but also became an integral part of Cleveland’s cultural fabric.
Pandemic Challenges and the Downfall of Melt Bar & Grilled
The COVID-19 pandemic introduced an array of unprecedented challenges for businesses across the globe, and Cleveland’s beloved Melt Bar & Grilled was no exception. This once-thriving establishment faced a variety of hurdles that ultimately led to a decline in its operations.
Impact of the Pandemic on Operations
- Reduced Foot Traffic: With mandatory lockdowns and social distancing measures in place, Melt Bar & Grilled experienced a significant drop in foot traffic.
- Supply Chain Disruptions: The pandemic caused widespread supply chain issues, leading to shortages of key ingredients and increased costs. Melt, known for its quality ingredients, struggled to maintain its standards without inflating prices beyond customers’ expectations.
Adapting to New Consumer Behaviors
- Shift to Takeout and Delivery: As diners opted for at-home meals, Melt pivoted to enhance its takeout and delivery services. Despite these adjustments, the financial strain of reduced in-person dining continued to pose a challenge for profitability.
- Digital Transformation: The necessity for online ordering and digital engagement accelerated, prompting Melt to invest in upgrading its digital platforms. While this move was crucial, the shift required significant resources and time to implement effectively.
Financial Strain and Operational Challenges
- Increased Operational Costs: The added expenses of implementing health and safety measures, coupled with rising food costs, placed considerable financial strain on Melt Bar & Grilled’s operations.
- Staffing Shortages: Like many in the hospitality industry, Melt faced challenges in retaining staff during the pandemic. This resulted in staffing shortages that hampered the restaurant’s ability to offer the level of service that patrons had come to expect.
Decline in Expansion and Market Presence
- Location Closures: As financial pressures escalated, Melt Bar & Grilled was compelled to make tough choices, including gradually closing locations to cut costs and concentrate on sustainability.
- Scaling Back Expansion Plans: The pandemic forced Melt to reevaluate its growth strategies, temporarily halting further expansion to focus on stabilizing existing operations.
Melt Bar & Grilled and Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
Melt Bar & Grilled recently faced financial struggles, leading to Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Owner Matt Fish, the visionary behind this popular eatery, had expanded the menu and aimed for franchise growth with a three-unit concept, but the pandemic and changing restaurant dynamics presented challenges.
As economic pressures intensified, the restaurant ultimately sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June 2024 as a strategic move to reorganize and restructure its debts. [1]
For Melt Bar & Grilled, this decision was aimed at preserving the brand’s legacy and ensuring its long-term viability. By filing for bankruptcy protection, the restaurant hoped to renegotiate terms with creditors, streamline operations, and safeguard jobs while continuing to serve its devoted customer base.
Throughout the restructuring process, Melt focused on maintaining its commitment to high-quality food and exceptional service, albeit under the constraints of its financial limitations.
This period marked a critical juncture for Melt Bar & Grilled as it sought to emerge from Chapter 11 with a more sustainable business model, ready to face the challenges of a post-pandemic restaurant industry.
Reasons Melt Bar & Grilled's Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Failed
Despite its popularity and dedicated fanbase, Cleveland’s Melt Bar & Grilled found itself in choppy waters when it declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Aiming to reorganize and restructure its debts, the move was intended to preserve the brand while addressing mounting financial challenges. However, the process did not unfold as anticipated.
Reasons for Bankruptcy Failure:
- Competition and Overexpansion: The fast-casual dining sector’s intense competition and the ambitious expansion beyond the Cleveland area overloaded the company.
- Economic Pressures: Rising costs and declining same-store sales further burdened Melt Bar & Grilled.
- Market Saturation: The franchise growth concept was met with market saturation, making it difficult to sustain the business model profitably.
- Inadequate Adaptation: The inability to swiftly pivot to changing consumer preferences and economic conditions weakened its market position.
On New Year’s Day 2025, owner Matt Fish made an announcement on social media, stating that the company has “struggled financially” since the pandemic.
His team had to make difficult decisions to try to save Melt Bar & Grilled, including closing 12 out of the 13 locations and filing for bankruptcy protection last June, with the intention of “reorganizing and rebuilding the company.” [2]
Despite ambitions to revitalize the restaurant chain after declaring Chapter 11, operational restructuring inefficiencies hindered significant recovery, leading Matt Fish to announce the closure of Melt Bar & Grilled’s final and original location in Lakewood, Ohio.
Matt Fish’s words conveyed a deep sadness about the inevitability of closing this last location. He expressed, “Today is a very sad day for me both personally and professionally. The company I launched 18 years ago is over.” [3]
If your business is experiencing financial difficulties and you are considering bankruptcy, contact the Law Offices of Richard West for a free consultation.
Sources:
[1] Fantozzi, J. (2025, February 4). Melt Bar & Grilled permanently shuts down after bankruptcy process fails. https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/melt-bar-grilled-permanently-shuts-down-after-bankruptcy-process-fails
[2] Melt Bar and Grilled. (n.d.). https://www.facebook.com/meltbarandgrilled/posts/happy-new-year-everyone-this-is-matt-fish-owner-of-melt-bar-and-grilledas-we-ste/1015603960606481/
[3] Nickoloff, A. (2025, January 1). Melt Bar and Grilled Closed its One Remaining Location. https://clevelandmagazine.com/food-drink/articles/melt-bar-and-grilled-closed-its-one-remaining-location
