By Kimberlina Rocha | Visalia Times-Delta | Feb.16, 2008

With its former owner and namesake standing by, Visalia's iconic Mearle's Drive-in was sold for $700,000 to one of its co-owners at a live auction Friday.

The Kazarian family of Fresno outbid competing SMB Investments, a group led by Rick and Susan Mangini and Doug and Amy Silveria, among other couples vying to restore the 1940 structure, by $15,000. Michael Kazarian, grandson of owner Ralph Kazarian Sr., was bidding for the family.

After the auction, held in front of Mearle's, Michael Kazarian said his family doesn't have definite plans for the restaurant. However, he did say placing a hamburger stand at the Mooney Boulevard location would be an option.

"We want to do what we can to keep it as much as it was before, when it was in its heyday," he said. "We want to work with the [city of Visalia] obviously, and have something good come out of it for everybody."

Rick Mangini, who was dressed in a Mearle's T-shirt, said his group was disappointed it was unable to fulfill its dream of reviving the building, which was the epitome of 1940s and '50s American pop culture. The group had been working for a year and a half, rallying support to restore the iconic building to its previous luster.

"I told Ralph [Kazarian] that we support him and the City Council members," he said.

Bob Cary, who operates A&W restaurants in Tulare and Kern counties and who had expressed interest in buying and restoring the historic eatery, was among the crowd. However, Cary was not one of the bidders.

The historic monument, known for its art deco flair, was placed on the list of local historic structures by the Historic Preservation Committee and Visalia Planning Commission. The move was approved by the Visalia City Council in November 2006.

The Kazarians co-owned the site with the Bruce family, Patricia, Edna and Elizabeth. Last December, the two families agreed to auction off the property, after a feud on what to do with the 67-year-old building and land after it was placed on the city's protected historic site list.

Mearle's closed in August 2006 when its operator, Melissa Ward, who leased the building, was evicted for nonpayment of rent.

Since then, the lonely landmark has been lying in disrepair.

Michael Kazarian said he didn't know what it would cost to repair the building.

"I don't want to look inside," he said with a laugh. "It's going to be quite a bit for what I could see."

Michael Kazarian said he and his family would like to work with the city as soon as possible and see if there are any potential tenants.

But Mearle's Drive-in would most likely not operate under its name, he added.

"Chances are it will be changed to something else," he said.

Former owner Mearle Heitzman and his wife, Marilyn, were among the dozens of spectators at the auction Friday morning.

Heitzman, 85, ran the eatery for 50 years.

"I would just like to see nice things happen," Heitzman said of his former business. "I have fond memories of this place."

Originally published online here: http://www.visaliatimesdelta.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080216/NEWS/802160335