BY KADIE VICK
FOR THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Since a local family opened a MELT franchise last month in Auburn, located at 1800 Samford Trace Court, Suite 240, the community response has been positive.
Owner Operator Laura Huddleston said, “We are now at 100% normal business hours which are from 11 am to 9 pm Tuesday through Saturday.”
The food at MELT is described as classic comfort foods with a modern twist. The community has responded with excitement, and since its opening MELT has been bustling with customers excited to check out the innovative menu.
“We offer a variety of different varieties of grilled cheeses and grilled sandwiches,” Huddleston said. “We offer fresh salads and things that are not you’re not gonna see every day. So for example, we have a mac and cheese egg roll, it’s Mexican cheese in a wrapper that’s deep fried and comes with a chili sauce. You’re not going to see that anywhere else.”
Not only has the menu and exciting items that MELT serves been an attraction for the community, but Huddleston has also taken care and time to hire staff that creates a great experience and environment for customers.
“We’ve had several reviews come through about how amazing our staff is,” she said. “That’s been really important for us because we try to make good food, but at the end of the day, it’s about the people that represent your brand, and our’s have been fantastic.”
Huddleston remarked excitedly about how supportive the community has been and how much it means to her for people to enjoy MELT as much as she does.
“Everyone has just been really supportive and I have been there quite a bit and it means so much to hear people speaking so positively about it, and all the hard work that we’ve put into making it a wonderful environment,” she said.
Ultimately Huddleston wants MELT to be a place where families can come and enjoy good food and each other and has crafted the dining experience to be one that is inviting and fun for children too.
She said, “Our biggest goal is to families feel welcomed as well. So we have board games, we have coloring sheets and high chairs. We just want to make sure that our families here have a community.”
Huddleston co-owns and operates the Auburn MELT franchise with her mother and has had support from her family throughout the journey of opening the restaurant.
“My mom and I have put a lot of time and effort into getting this open and making it a positive wonderful environment. My family is in that restaurant more than we’re at home. My kids are there, my husband is there, my dad is there and my sister,” she said. “So I think the biggest thing I would love to stress is that this is a family restaurant. We are really striving for excellence and we just want to serve our community in the best way that we can.”
