One of my co-workers actually sent me an email of this article in today's Richmond Times Dispatch - I didn't find it myself. Melito's is a popular restaurant in the same area where Douglas Freeman High School (Elliott's high school) and Westbury Pharmacy (where Elliott was working when he auditioned for Idol) are in Richmond. Elliott used to work there. Here's the article:

Melito's rep built on hot dogs, cool employees

Wednesday, Jan 23, 2008 - 12:06 AM
Article Tools
Email a Friend
RSS
digg it Printer Friendly
Mobile Alerts
Sphere IT
Save This Page
By CYNTHIA MCMULLEN
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Melito's Restaurant might want to consider adding a few "star walls" like at Sardi's in New York.

The Henrico County restaurant's walls, however, would showcase homegrown celebrities.

Melito's best-known alum is probably Elliott Yamin, who worked as a prep guy in the eatery's kitchen.

You remember Elliott Yamin. Does "American Idol" ring any bells?

Yamin worked for Melito's in the late 1990s. Evelyn Green worked there, too, in the late 1980s. Green, who waited tables, became Miss Virginia in 1990.

The latest alumna to hit the headlines is Tracy Hughes-Wolf, who makes her reality TV debut Feb. 7 on CBS' "Survivor: Micronesia." She was a bartender and waitress in the late 1980s.

"She's a wonderful young lady," said restaurant owner Richard Melito. "If anybody has what it takes to win, it would be her."

Melito said she's personable, outgoing, attractive, bubbly and friendly. "I don't think she's scared of anything."

That last attribute might be the most important when Hughes-Wolf faces the cutthroat competition that has kept "Survivor" afloat all these seasons.

"We'll definitely have a Tracy Hughes-Wolf 'Survivor' Night . . . at least the first night," Melito said. "Just for the sheer factor of people who used to know her."

Now 43, Hughes-Wolf lives in Fredericksburg. Hearing she had made "Survivor" surprised the staff, Melito said, "considering we just got off Elliott."

Yamin, Green and Hughes-Wolf aren't the only local celebrity types who've worked for Melito. Laughing, he said, "a lot of people left and opened their own restaurants."

Speaking of Elliott, want to hear or sing with him?
Thirty area children -- ages 6 to 18 with Type 1 diabetes -- will accompany Elliott Yamin at the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Gala.

The black-tie gala, which begins March 1 at 6 p.m. at The Jefferson Hotel, will feature Baby Huey and the Babysitters as well as Yamin.

Yamin and the children will perform "Promise to Remember Me," a song delegates sang at the 2007 Children's Congress in Washington.

Tickets for the gala, which cost $150, are available by calling (804) 245-8014.

Children with Type 1 diabetes who are interested in singing with Yamin may audition, by appointment only, Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Jefferson, 101 W. Franklin St. Two February rehearsals will be required, as well as a sound check the day of the gala.

To make an appointment, e-mail Eva Clarke at type1kids@gmail.com. For more on the central Virginia chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, visit www.jdrf.org/centralvirginia.

(Note: Yamin's former boss, Richard Melito, was honored last year as a leading force in raising diabetes awareness and money in Richmond

Can't wait to hear Elliott isng with the children :)

Me too! Wasn't expecting that. Yeah!

Awwww- that's our guy- very cool!

Awwwwww how wonderful!!