The Original Pancake House, 2621 N. Downer Ave., opened for business on May 29, 2006. Located in the space known by many Milwaukeeans as "the old Coffee Trader," it's been a huge hit, drawing large weekend crowds and maintaining consistent weekday business. It's a huge gathering spot that's helping bring Downer back.
The Original Pancake House was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1953 by Les Highet and Erma Hueneke. The Downer location, owned by Joe DeRosa and Jeff Winter, was the 150th franchise to open in the United States.
I say, though, that it's now time for a second location in Milwaukee. And that location should be Downtown.
Laugh as you will at my constant harping for more food, entertainment and service options in our city center. But, with more than 80,000 workers, countless tourists and an ever-growing residential population Downtown is ripe for more dining destinations, specifically breakfast options.
My recent post calling for a Downtown Kopp's hasn't yet spurred a response or talkback from Karl Kopp, but it did yield many e-mails and talkbacks supporting the idea. Not sure that gets us a Downtown Kopp's, but it can't hurt.
Now, let's turn our thoughts to pancakes. Mr. DeRosa are you reading? Who else is with me?
A life-long and passionate community leader and Milwaukeean, Jeff Sherman is a co-founder of OnMilwaukee.
He grew up in Wauwatosa and graduated from Marquette University, as a Warrior. He holds an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, and is the founding president of Young Professionals of Milwaukee (YPM)/Fuel Milwaukee.
Early in his career, Sherman was one of youngest members of the Greater Milwaukee Committee, and currently is involved in numerous civic and community groups - including board positions at The Wisconsin Center District, Wisconsin Club and Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. He's honored to have been named to The Business Journal's "30 under 30" and Milwaukee Magazine's "35 under 35" lists.
He owns a condo in Downtown and lives in greater Milwaukee with his wife Stephanie, his son, Jake, and daughter Pierce. He's a political, music, sports and news junkie and thinks, for what it's worth, that all new movies should be released in theaters, on demand, online and on DVD simultaneously.
He also thinks you should read OnMilwaukee each and every day.
