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“We’re not doing any restaurant openings this year, but one major project we are doing is a pretty hefty renovation project at our original location in Lakewood,” says Melt Bar and Grilled owner and founder Matt Fish.It’s been a dozen years since that restaurant opened its doors and, in the process, birthed a concept that has done nothing but grow and shatter all expectations. The regional chain now boasts a dozen locations spread across the state. In fact, it was precisely that rapid rate of expansion that kept management away from this much-needed renovation project.“We expanded Lakewood three separate times and did everything on a shoestring budget and then we just kind of moved on and left this place alone, so we’re going back to Lakewood to give it some attention,” Fish adds.The flagship location will close on April 1st for a 26-day renovation project. It will reopen for business on Friday, April 27th. In between, the space will be completely gutted and rebuilt. Improvements will include two new first-floor bathrooms (no more running downstairs), an expanded and modernized kitchen, greatly improved flow throughout the space, and cosmetic updates to the bar and dining room areas.“The goal is to modernize the location but definitely keep the original look and feel,” Fish says of the 100-year-old building.The Lakewood location will celebrate a Grand Re-Opening at 11 a.m. on Friday, April 27th. There will be “exclusive swag and mystery guests” planned.“We could not have opened our original location in a better community,” adds Fish. “The support we receive from Lakewood and its officials and residents is incredible and this renovation project is dedicated to them. We want to create an even greater Melt Experience for our longtime supporters. The original Lakewood location is incredibly special to me and countless others and I hope we operate in that building for the next 50 years or more!”