Family-Owned for 3 Generations, Melichar 66 is the Place to Tailgate
In October of 1969, Bruce Melichar’s father started Melichar 66, the landmark Phillips 66 gas station we’ve all walked or driven by on the corner of 9th and P Streets. More than a gas station, Melichar 66 also specializes in all aspects of vehicle repair and engine diagnostics, servicing all makes and models.
Today, Bruce is the owner and his son Jeff is the manager. Bruce worked with his father for a number of years. He even remembers being in grade school when they built the station. The goal has always been to keep it in the family, so Bruce bought his dad out in 1978, the same year Jeff was born.
The scores on the marquee started in the fall of ‘69 right when they opened. In January of 1978, the station caught on fire and destroyed most of the place, but not the marquee.
“In January ‘89, we took quite a bit of damage,” Bruce said. “We used to have the type of canopy where it was pitched, like a tent, opposed to the modern style we currently have now. The inside changed a bit, and the outside too, but the marquee always stood tall.”
People come all-around to tailgate at the station. The Melichar’s welcome everyone to come and enjoy watching a good game of football, no matter the team.
“For about 20 years now, people have come to the station not just wanting to park here, but wanting to tailgate,” Jeff said. “They bring their truck, a tent or something to put up behind it, and a spread of cold beer and some sandwiches, fried chicken, etc.”
Today, it has evolved into something much more. Melichar 66 has become a game day staple. Some visitors rent the spots and bring their five-year-old son to see his first game and experience the environment. Bruce and Jeff have built a community through these tailgates—it’s become a sort of football family. A lot of people who rent the spots season after season have gotten close with each other and will coordinate who brings what for the next game. It usually ends up being a big potluck!
Melichar 66 is most memorable for the marquee. It is known for displaying quippy phrases about the games and predicts the scores. It’s not uncommon for opposing fans to walk by and take pictures of the marquee.
“Picking the scores is always the fun part,” said Jeff.
Bruce and Jeff do their own due diligence to calculate the over-under and the point spread of the game by going over all the stats. They ask themselves, how did the team do last year? Who did they play? Who do they win and lose to and by how much? Are there any players injured on the team? Etc.
No matter what their stats tell them, though, the Melichars never pick a loss because it jinxes the team. That is their game-day superstition.
