New Tenant Unveiled for Parasol Site in Seal Beach; Mel's Drive-in Joins ''The Shops at Rossmoor''.

SEAL BEACH, Calif. -- Century National Properties, Inc., the property owner behind "The Shops at Rossmoor" revitalization project, today announced that Mel's Drive-in has signed a letter of intent to lease the iconic Parasol building in the shopping center. The family-friendly restaurant with a nostalgic 1950s retro-feel will open its doors to the community in Spring 2007, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, and specializing in Sunday brunch.

"Mel's is the perfect fit for the Parasol building," said Madelyn Jackrel, executive vice president of Century National Properties. "We have spent months renovating the structure to preserve this fine example of Googie architecture -- the same 'coffee shop modern' style of architecture featured at the Mel's in West Hollywood."

In 1997, much to the delight of city officials in West Hollywood, Mel's acquired and restored the Ben Frank's property on the Sunset Strip, which at its prime hosted regulars like James Dean and Andy Warhol. Today, the landmark building, with its exaggerated lines and unconventional design, is one of the best examples of Googie architecture in Los Angeles.

"We are thrilled to be opening our first restaurant in Orange County," said Steven Weiss, proprietor of Mel's. "And we couldn't have asked for a better location than the Googie-styled Parasol."

Made famous by the George Lucas film American Grafitti, Mel's is a blast from the past reminiscent of rock'n'roll and life in post-war America. Founded in 1947 in San Francisco by namesake Mel Weiss and Harold Dobbs, Mel's was an iconic part of the roaring 1950s and ensuing decades until 1972, when it was bought out by a restaurant conglomerate. The drive-in chain was resurrected in its current form in 1985 by Steven Weiss, Mel's son, and his partner Donald Wagstaff for a new generation of diners to enjoy. Today, there are seven Mel's locations throughout San Francisco and the Los Angeles area.

Built in 1967, the Parasol building in Seal Beach is the last remaining structure from the original "The Parasol" chain of restaurants. The building is a hybrid of two architectural styles: the futuristically-themed Googie, with its big domes, large sheet glass windows, and flying saucer and boomerang shapes; and Programmatic, in which the building reflects its name or the contents within.

The Parasol structure has undergone extensive renovations as part of "The Shops at Rossmoor" revitalization project. Century National Properties has spent approximately $1 million on seismic and code upgrades to the structure and its mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems. The property owner also re-roofed the building using a special method to maintain the integrity of its architecture.

About "The Shops at Rossmoor"

"The Shops at Rossmoor" is a revitalization project to transform the former Rossmoor Center, located at the intersection of Seal Beach, Rossmoor and Los Alamitos, from a 1960s-style strip center to a modern lifestyle center. Owned by Century National Properties, "The Shops at Rossmoor" will feature high-quality retail and dining destinations and will open in Summer 2007.