As they walk into the space shared by Mel’s Good Times Cafe and The Wicked Mojo Bar & Grill, customers are transported to New Orleans.
Bright colors, the smell of Cajun food, a nine-foot projection screen playing live sports and a signed pair of Muhammad Ali’s boxing shorts give the space an aura of authenticity and uniqueness that sets it apart from the rest of Burlington’s restaurant scene.
The Wicked Mojo Bar & Grill, a sports bar with authentic sports memorabilia, occupies 8,000 square feet with Mel’s Good Times in the Holly Hills Mall in Burlington.
Hunt Ward, president of Wicked Mojo’s Entertainment Group, Inc. and cook, purchased the cafe Nov. 1 from the owners of the Good Times Cafe. Since then, Ward has been working to develop a restaurant for Elon University students that has a high-energy atmosphere and a satisfying menu.
Ward said Mel’s Good Times’ build-your-own burger menu features more than 400 personalizable combinations. Atypical topping choices include jambalaya, Louisiana crawfish, Black Forest Ham and shrimp. Customizable burgers are common in large cities such as New York City, but Mel’s Good Times is the only restaurant in Burlington to offer such a menu.
Ward spent a month perfecting the seafood burger, which is made of fresh ground catfish, scallops and shrimp. To keep the ingredients together, he cooks the patty on a 400-degree flattop grill. These handmade burgers include visible pieces of shrimp.
“I want you to know what you’re eating,” he said.
Ward’s goal is to make the appetizer menu just as diverse. He wants to go beyond the standard cheese fries, nachos and onion rings.
He recently began selling alligator bites, and they have sold out each night since. The success of this uncommon dish could lead to his adding alligator — and maybe even chicken — bites to the appetizer menu as regulars.
As a world traveler, Ward finds inspiration in the cuisines of the 32 countries he has visited. A visit to Australia inspired him to make the catfish and shrimp burger, and his other experiences abroad have prompted him to take a risk and introduce new flavors and styles to the Burlington culinary world.
“I try to create what doesn’t exist,” he said.
Live music also adds to the adventure. Three nights a week, musicians from the area perform anything from classic rock to acoustic and country. Customers can share their own vocal talents at karaoke each Friday night.
Students might be attracted to Mel’s Good Times for its menu selection and entertainment, but they’ll visit regularly for its prices. Most entrees cost less than $10.
Mel’s Good Times’ employees have noticed the restaurant’s uniqueness attracting success. Waitress Hollie Boggs said business and customer satisfaction have both increased since Ward took over.
“Our business has almost quadrupled,” Boggs said. “It’s more upbeat. We connect to every table we serve.”
Sophomore Haley Back has dined at Mel’s Good Times. She commended the service and food and said the revamped restaurant was much improved compared to the old Good Times restaurant.
“[Ward] was so friendly and came and talked to each table,” she said. “The food was super delicious. You could tell it was hand-prepared.”
The restaurant’s interior complements its upbeat atmosphere. Ward collects sports memorabilia as a hobby, and his personal collection adorns the walls of the Wicked Mojo Bar. This includes a pair of signed Muhammad Ali shorts, an original animation cell from the movie “Space Jam” and a signed LeBron James Cavaliers Rookie of the Year jersey.
Ward’s roots lie with Elon, and he hopes its students will help the business grow.
His father graduated from Elon in 1947 and served on the Board of Trustees from 1977-1993. Ward graduated in 1982 and has served on the Board of Visitors at Elon for 24 years, and his daughter graduated from Elon in 2011.
Ward is offering job positions to students and graduates. He also wants to eventually provide internship opportunities in sales, marketing and communications for Elon students.
“What’s a better group than energetic and innovative college students?” he asked.
To make the restaurant even more appealing to college students, Ward is planning to institute a designated driver policy. The policy would allow the designated driver in groups of five to get a free meal. He still needs to solve a few logistical problems, but he hopes the policy can help the restaurant stand apart.
In the past two weeks, he said Mel’s Good Times has turned over a new leaf in terms of image and popularity. He attributes this newfound success to Elon’s Live Oak Communications team, which has been working on the restaurant’s website and social media presence.
The restaurant is a new endeavor, but Ward believes the franchise might expand to regional locations and strip malls nationwide with the help of Elon students.
“We are now in virgin territory,” he said. “It’s up to us to decide our future from here.”