Chez Melange

Chez Melange was a multi-concept restaurant venue in Redondo Beach, California, known primarily for seafood, gastropub fare, and an oyster bar. The business opened in 1982 and was owned and operated by Michael Franks and Robert Bell, who served as co-owner and head chef. Their partnership combined Franks's formal restaurant-school background and London upbringing with Bell's experience and perspective as a chef from Brooklyn. Despite their different backgrounds, the two were described as sharing a strong drive and passion for the restaurant business. The restaurant initially operated on Pacific Coast Highway. After the end of its lease, Chez Melange moved in January 2009 to 1611 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach. At the Catalina Avenue location, the operators developed several related dining concepts within the same venue. These included Chez Melange itself, Sea Change, a seafood-focused restaurant; Bouzy, a gastropub; and The Oyster Bar. This arrangement gave the business a broader identity than a conventional single-format restaurant, allowing it to serve different occasions and dining preferences while retaining a connection to seafood and chef-led cooking. Chez Melange remained associated with the South Bay dining scene until it closed permanently on February 29, 2020. The closure ended the brand's operation rather than representing a change of ownership or a continuing chain expansion. It was a local restaurant brand with a single principal operating location and no documented public listing, parent company, or international market presence. The former Catalina Avenue premises subsequently hosted other restaurant concepts. In 2021, the site reopened under different ownership as Table Manners and was later renamed Perfect Storm. Perfect Storm also closed in the early 2020s. In 2025, reports announced plans for another fine-dining concept, Montauk, at the former Chez Melange location. Montauk was described as the concept of African American entrepreneur Lavae McClinnahan and as being influenced by the Long Island hamlet of Montauk. These successor businesses are separate from Chez Melange and are not part of its ownership or brand history.

Chez Melange was established in 1982 as an American restaurant in Redondo Beach, California. The business was created and run by Michael Franks and Robert Bell, with Bell serving as co-owner and head chef. Accounts of their partnership emphasize the contrast between their backgrounds: Franks was from London and had attended restaurant school, while Bell was from Brooklyn and had taken a less formal educational path. They nevertheless shared an intense commitment to restaurant work and developed a durable operating partnership. The restaurant's first location was on Pacific Coast Highway. When the lease ended, Chez Melange moved to 1611 South Catalina Avenue in January 2009. The relocation provided a new base for the business and supported an expanded multi-concept format. Rather than operating only as a single dining room, the Catalina Avenue venue contained three associated restaurant concepts. Sea Change was oriented toward seafood, Bouzy offered a gastropub format, and The Oyster Bar focused on oysters and related seafood service. Chez Melange therefore functioned as the principal name within a small collection of related dining experiences at one address. This structure connected the brand with several segments of the local restaurant market, from full-service seafood dining to casual drinks and gastropub food. Its identity remained rooted in independently operated, chef-led hospitality rather than a national chain model. There is no documented parent corporation, public listing, franchise network, or substantial operation outside the Redondo Beach area. After nearly four decades in business, Chez Melange closed permanently on February 29, 2020. The closure marked the end of the brand's own operations. The Catalina Avenue property continued to be used by unrelated restaurant businesses: it reopened in 2021 as Table Manners under different ownership, was later renamed Perfect Storm, and eventually closed in the early 2020s. In 2025, plans were announced for Montauk, a separate fine-dining restaurant concept associated with entrepreneur Lavae McClinnahan. The later occupants and announced projects reflect the continuing use of the property, but they are not successor brands owned by Chez Melange.

• 2025

  Montauk announced for the former site

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  A separate fine-dining concept called Montauk is announced for the former Chez Melange premises.

• 2021

  Former premises reopen under new ownership

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  The former Chez Melange location reopens as Table Manners, a separate restaurant.

• 2020

  Permanent closure

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  Chez Melange closes permanently on February 29, ending the brand's restaurant operations.

• 2009

  Relocation to Catalina Avenue

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  After its Pacific Coast Highway lease ends, Chez Melange moves to 1611 South Catalina Avenue in January.

• 2009

  Multi-concept Catalina Avenue venue develops

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  The new venue operates Chez Melange alongside Sea Change, Bouzy, and The Oyster Bar.

• 1982

  Chez Melange opens in Redondo Beach

  [1]Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org

  Michael Franks and Robert Bell establish the restaurant brand in Redondo Beach, California.

A chef-led, locally operated South Bay restaurant brand combining seafood dining, gastropub service, and an oyster-bar concept within a multi-restaurant venue.

• Seafood restaurant · 1982

  Chez Melange seafood dining

  The core Chez Melange concept presented chef-led American dining with a strong seafood orientation. It operated as the principal identity of the Redondo Beach venue and was associated with the cooking and management of co-owner and head chef Robert Bell. The available reference material does not provide a complete menu, signature dish list, or specific preparation details.

• Seafood restaurant concept · 2009

  Sea Change

  Sea Change was a seafood-themed restaurant operated at the same Catalina Avenue venue as Chez Melange. It broadened the site's seafood offering through a distinct concept while remaining part of the locally operated restaurant group at the address. Specific menu items, pricing, and operating dates are not documented in the supplied reference material.

• Gastropub · 2009

  Bouzy

  Bouzy was the gastropub concept within the Catalina Avenue restaurant venue. Its format complemented the more seafood-focused Chez Melange and Sea Change concepts by emphasizing a casual pub-style dining and drinking experience. The available sources do not specify its menu, beverage program, or exact launch date.

• Oyster bar · 2009

  The Oyster Bar

  The Oyster Bar was the venue's oyster-focused concept, operating alongside Chez Melange, Sea Change, and Bouzy at the Catalina Avenue address. It extended the site's seafood identity with a more specialized format. Detailed information about its selection, service model, and operating period is not available in the supplied sources.

• 2020

  Permanent closure of the brandOther

  Background

  After operating in Redondo Beach since 1982, the restaurant reached the end of its independent operating history.

  Action taken

  Chez Melange closed permanently on February 29, 2020.

  Aftermath

  The premises later hosted unrelated concepts including Table Manners, Perfect Storm, and the announced Montauk project.

  Source

• 2009

  Move to a new operating venueStrategy

  Background

  The original Pacific Coast Highway lease ended, requiring the restaurant to leave its first location.

  Action taken

  Chez Melange relocated in January 2009 to 1611 South Catalina Avenue in Redondo Beach.

  Aftermath

  The new site became a multi-concept venue hosting Chez Melange, Sea Change, Bouzy, and The Oyster Bar.

  Source

1. 1Chez Melangeen.wikipedia.org