Business Spotlight: Mel-O-Cream, The Boardroom, Copper and Oak
[July 11, 2026]
With a new building, refreshed look, and new menu items, Mel-O-Cream
remains a staple in the Lincoln community. It is accompanied by two new
businesses, The Boardroom and Copper and Oak at 227 N. Kickapoo St.
Mel-O-Cream International began in Springfield in 1932. The Lincoln
franchise was opened in 1964 by Carl Meyer, who had previously worked at
Mel-O-Cream in Springfield. The original store was located at 704 Keokuk
and was decorated in 1960s style until the move. In 2021, Mel-O-Cream
was purchased by Joe and Michelle Ryan and Greg and Rita Patel. The new
space provides more room for guests to enjoy the donuts, coffees, and
smoothies, as well as the convenience of a drive-thru. It is also
located just 127 feet from historic downtown Lincoln and has recently
installed a giant donut outside.
Michelle Ryan says they were motivated to make the purchase because
Mel-O-Cream was a part of growing up in Lincoln, and they feared losing
a staple of the city.
She recalled learning about business and management from her mother, who
owned Java Junction.
Ryan enjoys the creative outlet that these businesses provide. She says
that one of the most rewarding parts is giving young people their first
job opportunities and she enjoys teaching them valuable skills. She has
also enjoyed getting to know the customers. She says some of them are
like family.
Mel-O-Cream’s most popular donuts are its white long johns and chocolate
cream-filled. Their most popular smoothie is the summer strawberry. They
offer seasonal donuts and smoothies.
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The building features a new event space called The Boardroom. The
Boardroom is a modern space with a capacity of 100 people. It provides
in-house catering and has hosted corporate meetings, wedding ceremonies
and receptions, birthdays, and graduation parties. It is possible to
rent The Boardroom and Copper and Oak together and open the large
sliding doors that adjoin them.
Copper and Oak is an upscale lounge with a warm ambiance and a large
selection of bourbons, whiskeys, handcrafted cocktails, and over 21
craft beers. They have a large patio and have become a popular gathering
spot, hosting live music, bingo, watch parties, and fundraisers. Ryan
says they have a new cocktail menu for every season, and their
blackberry mule is one of their most popular drinks. She says that
creating cocktails is her favorite part of Copper and Oak.
Getting a global picture of your goals and what you want to accomplish
is important, Ryan says. She added that recognizing that not everything
can be perfect and there is always room for improvement is important for
anyone starting fresh in a similar business.
Mel-O-Cream is open every day from 5:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Copper and Oak
is also open daily. For more information about The Boardroom event
space, visit their
Facebook page.
[Joli Boerma Crane] |
