For over 20 years, Mebla’s Restaurant has been a staple in New York City’s food scene. Since it first opened its doors in Harlem, owner Melba Wilson has fostered a community that was near and dear to her heart.
As time has gone on, the restaurant has grown beyond its original storefront, and there’s no sign of stopping.
In February 2025, Melba’s Restaurant officially opened a new location within Grand Central Terminal. The fast-casual spot is found on the lower level of the station.
Unlike the Harlem restaurant, the Grand Central Terminal spot is always on display, which was something of an adjustment for the team.
“We’re always open. GCT never closes, so unlike a normal restaurant where you unlock and lock doors for peace and quiet, we’re on stage constantly. Even when we’re not open to the public, GCT is a living, breathing organism with people passing through 365 days a year, almost 24 hours per day,” the Melba’s team said.
The Melba’s team told amNewYork that the new location quickly became popular among Grand Central’s commuters, but they still find that people are surprised to see them there.
“We have found the response to be overwhelmingly positive. People are super excited to be able to experience Melba’s and her menu, which has been in production for 21 years, in a Midtown location,” the team said. “Our biggest uphill battle is still getting the word out that we are here. People are so used to keeping their heads down and moving through the day; even one year after opening, people are still surprised to learn we’re down there.”
Even still, Melba’s has no plans for slowing down. This spring, the eatery is opening a new location at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ, further expanding the brand’s footprint beyond the borders of New York City.
The brand is also looking for opportunities to grow with more fast-casual options, like the Grand Central Terminal location.
“We’re super excited that Melba’s in Newark will finally be opening in late spring. It will be a 60-seat restaurant with a large production kitchen and a fast-casual spot that emulates what we have in GCT and at Wollman Rink,” the team said. “We’re bringing 250 jobs to Newark and expanding catering into the New Jersey area.”
For the team at Melba’s Restaurant, the roots in Harlem has allowed them to grow into new parts of the city and beyond. As a Black and woman-owned business, they feel that New York City has a duty to foster more of these businesses so they can flourish.
“We believe it helps close the gender and racial wealth gaps. It helps create jobs in underserved communities and serves as a representation of empowerment for both women and people of color,” the team said.
For more information on Melba’s, visit melbasrestaurant.com.
