Renowned Restaurateur Melba Wilson To Open New Spot In Newark

NEWARK, NJ — Newark foodies and lovers of “comfort food” got a treat on Wednesday when city officials made a big announcement: a Melba’s Restaurant is coming to the Brick City.

Melba Wilson will be bringing her signature Melba’s Restaurant to downtown Newark with the opening of Melba’s 550. Located at 550 Broad Street, the new restaurant will occupy the former First National State Bank space in the historic building. It will offer seating in the original bank vault, providing a unique dining experience, and will also have a separate coffee shop with a takeout window.

Details on the restaurant’s menu and design are still evolving, but Wilson said she hopes to have the restaurant open in late 2022.

Wilson, the founder of the eponymous Melba’s Restaurant and Melba’s Catering in New York City, has become a famed entrepreneur in Harlem, where she was born and raised. Outside of the kitchen, she is an accomplished author, philanthropist and notable television personality.

Several city officials, including Mayor Ras Baraka, trumpeted the announcement as a major win.

“For nearly two decades, people near and far have traveled just to experience Melba’s world-class cuisine and impeccable customer service and we will now have this opportunity here in Newark,” Baraka said.

“As mayor, I am honored and proud to have Melba Wilson bring her exquisite and contemporary style of soul food to our great city,” Baraka said. “This new dining experience and its significance of location in the Harriet Tubman Square neighborhood is a landmark statement and it will add much value to our residents and to our city’s future growth.”

Marc Berson, chair of Fidelco Realty Group – which owns the building the new restaurant will be located in – said Wilson’s decision to expand onto Broad Street “speaks volumes” about the building’s significance to the Harriet Tubman Square neighborhood.

“From the moment we met Melba, I knew we were going to do something special together,” Berson said, adding that there are plans to “gut renovate” the lobby of the historic building and build a new front entrance from Broad Street that will align with the back of the building, creating a “public thoroughfare for the neighborhood.”

Wilson was enthusiastic about the launch of her latest enterprise.

“This is a very exciting moment for us; a Jewish guy from Newark and a Black woman from Harlem are showing that we all have so much in common through our love of food, family and community,” Wilson said. “The new restaurant will be in Newark, of Newark, and for Newark.”

“We’re going to combine our minds and change lives,” she said.

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