The new restaurant moving into the old Friendly’s building on Richmond Road might be just weeks away from opening.
Not Another Pancake House is near the tail end of a thorough renovation at 1803 Richmond Road in York County, owner Marinos Kokolis said Friday.
Kokolis hopes to open the restaurant around May 15, if renovations and staff hiring keeps going according to plan.
After five years sitting vacant, the Friendly’s building was in dire need of renovation and cleanup. Inside, old grills, refrigerators and other kitchen equipment were bolted to the walls; some had years-old trash behind them.
“We threw everything out,” Kokolis said. “It all went out the back.”
The new owners “pretty much gutted” the restaurant, replacing the kitchen appliances, flooring, lighting, Sheetrock, tables and chairs. The family also replaced the HVAC unit.
The parking lot has also been repaved.
Almost all inspections have been completed to get the business open, Kokolis said.
As far as the name, Not Another Pancake House, Kokolis said the restaurant will be “just that.”
“We are another pancake house, but we think we’re more than that, too,” Kokolis said, adding the restaurant will serve lunch all day, including burgers.
Breakfast may also be a little different, not just “pancakes, waffles and eggs,” he said. The restaurant will offer specialty waffles like red velvet and cinnamon swirl and different styles off eggs benedict.
While the restaurant may be new, Kokolis said the business already has a strong local following. The Kokolis family has owned and operated several restaurants in the area, including the Astronomical Pancake House and 5 Brothers Pancake and Steakhouse in Lightfoot.
Kokolis said 5 Brothers closed last year after selling the property to the church next door.
The family intended to reopen another restaurant closer to tourist areas of town, which is how they came to buy the Friendly’s location in mid-February.
As with all restaurant openings, Kokolis expects to need to iron out some kinks in the first few days of operations.
“I’ve put my heart and soul into this place getting it ready,” Kokolis said. “And I am one of the main people that’ll be in the back in the kitchen cooking, so I’ll make sure everything is perfect for everyone.”
