Denny Greenberg standing in the doorway of Melody’s Cookies, a store located on Lansing Street just south of Little Lake Street, April 1975. The “Melody’s Cookies” sign was created by John Chamberlin.
Melody’s Cookies opened in 1973 on Lansing Street across from Mendosa’s grocery store. Owner Melody Joy sold giant ginger, peanut butter, chocolate chip, and oatmeal raisin cookies. The cookie shop’s little building was constructed in the 1960s as the office of McDonell’s lumber yard. The Beacon predicted that Melody’s Cookies “should become a popular shop for snackers.”
The cookies were enjoyed by both locals and tourists. In 1975, actor Clint Eastwood stayed at Little River Inn and toured Mendocino. “He graciously signed his autograph for many teenagers, also stopping for one of Melody’s giant cookies and signing her guest book adding ‘super’ for his cookies.”
In a December 1978 Beacon ad, Melody offered custom baked holiday treats. That year Melody had opened her own bakery on the corner of Howard and Ukiah Streets “where she continues to bake the incredible GIANTS, but she is also creating brownies, carrot cakes, ginger bread and a variety of custom-baked goods which she is distributing from Cleone to Elk. Melody’s smaller cookies, her mini-loaves of pumpkin bread, her elegant banana cake are featured at many friendly shops.”
Melody described her business as a specialty bakery. In April 1979, she told the Beacon, “I am currently making specialty items for the Bank House, the Village Nursery in Fort Bragg, and the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens.” She also took special baking orders for individuals.
Melody’s business was offered for sale in November 1981. In the summer of 1982, Deja Vu, a hat shop owned by Katherine Henderson, opened in the tiny building on Lansing across from Mendosa’s.
“Mendocino and the Movies: Hollywood and TV Motion Pictures Filmed on the Mendocino Coast” by Bruce Levene. More than 50 films from 1904 to 2001 used local scenery and local actors. $20.