Mel-O-Cream fans currently have one less option to find their favorite doughnuts. The store in Fairhills Mall, located at 1953 W. Monroe, has closed effective immediately, although owner Amanda Crossland said she hopes it will only be temporary.
“Over the last year we have been trying to work with the mall property management, located in California, on major HVAC replacement and repairs needed,” she told SBJ. “Hopefully, a resolution can be reached so that the store can be reopened soon.”
Mel-O-Cream has been at that location since 1975, Crossland said. She acquired the four existing Springfield retail locations in 2019 from Chris Weihmeir and opened a new west-side store in October 2022.
“Our awesome Fairhills team will be moved to other stores. We hope that our amazing customers will come see us at one of our four remaining stores,” Crossland said.
Mel-O-Cream has other retail locations at 217 E. Laurel St., 525 North Grand Ave E., 3010 S. Sixth St. and 4411 Yucan Dr.
The Fairhills shopping center is owned by Fairhills Investors Equity LLC. Sean Namvar of Los Angeles is the manager of the holding company and also heads Equimax Management, which manages more than 5 million square feet of retail space in California and the St. Louis area.
