Alice Hyatt and her son head west after Alice is widowed. Her car breaks down in Phoenix, Arizona, where she takes a job at Mel's diner. There she and the two other waitresses Flo and Vera worked for the grouchy owner Mel. The 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore inspired the hit series, and Polly Holliday's character Florence Jean Castleberry became popular enough to briefly support a spinoff called . Flo was known for her catch phrase, "Kiss my grits" which was her general response to most of Mel's requests, suggestions and comments. / /