Open soon: Nick's Original House of Pancakes in former Big Boy on Lohr Road
The menus are printed, the staff is trained and the first food delivery came on Saturday.
Nick Panos had hoped to pen Nick's Original House of Pancakes in the former Big Boy on Lohr Road in Pittsfield Township this Thursday - but today said he's now planning on opening at 7 a.m. Monday.
"We're really close," Panos said late last week - a sentiment that he repeated today.
The restaurant is the latest for Panos, who owns other eateries in Washtenaw County. His family owns several others, including The Broken Egg and Village Kitchen.
He leased the former Big Boy building - located southeast of the I-94 and Ann Arbor-Saline Road intersection - in the fall after the previous restaurant operators were evicted.
Panos planned to open by the week of Thanksgiving, but encountered some delays.
"I've been trying to make sure everything is right when we open," he said. "You run into problems here and there."
The restaurant has undergone some updating, including a new color palette featuring a bright yellow sign.
And he's been leaving the lights on, attracting some attention by passersby who want to stop in on the first day. That's changed his plans, too.
"I was going to do a soft opening," he said.
Comments
montiykj
Sun, May 2, 2010 : 9:05 p.m.
Date of visit 5/2/10 My family and I tried NOHP 3 times. Each time there was some sort of issue that left a bad taste...no pun intended. This last visit was the final time!!!! A party of 10 were waiting patiently for 25 mins. No biggie...until they were next to be seated and the host, who turned out to be so HORRIBLY RUDE, seated a 2 top at the booth. ( It was two booths that could/should have turned into one large booth) The gentleman asked the host what happened and the "host" got really snotty and flat out rude to the customer. To the point of taking his name off the list, threatening to not seat them at all, or making them wait an additional 30 mins. WHen the customer spoke to NIck himself, he crossed his arms and said "what's the problem" After that my family left! I refuse to eat somewhere that feels it's ok to treat people that way! There are many great restaurants in Ann Arbor, this is not one of them!!!
lorayn
Mon, Dec 28, 2009 : 5:23 p.m.
i went there and was disappointed by the service. We were there for over an hour waiting for our food. We should have listened to the woman complaining to the cashier as we came in that she never got the cheese on her patty melt. The kitchen was very slow -- the servers were doing their best. One family waited so long that they asked for containers when their food came so they could take it home immediately. My omelet was great. My husband's pancakes were tough.
Paula Gardner
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 10:30 a.m.
It is the same story! Just updated on the open date... I've been getting emails from readers about when this opens, so there's no reason to keep it secret. Sorry, didn't hear a word about free pancakes, though.
The Picker
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 8:47 a.m.
Yes you are a weiner! See Nick or Paula for your prize pancakes!
voiceofreason
Wed, Dec 16, 2009 : 12:10 a.m.
I wonder what's gonna be on the menu?
Captain Magnificent
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 7:36 p.m.
I can. "Free Pancakes". Wow. That was easy. Do I win something?
The Picker
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 7:29 p.m.
This is the same puff piece you ran last week? Can you say free pancakes.
Captain Magnificent
Tue, Dec 15, 2009 : 5:43 p.m.
it's good that he's differentiating his restaurant from all those other guys named Nick who run impostor pancake houses. My Mom said she ate at one of the impostor places and she liked it, but I disagree. I ate at one of the non-original places and there was a fingernail in my syrup.
Fred Posner
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 11:24 p.m.
They served food last weekend.
brian
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 8:54 p.m.
I am sort of surprised it is okay to open "Nick's Original House of Pancakes" when there is a nationwide chain called "The Original Pancake House". But I will be there the week it opens with high hopes.
ChrisW
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 6:42 p.m.
It's right where Google Maps says "Big Boy": http://tinyurl.com/bigboylohr
Paula Gardner
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 3:27 p.m.
The official address is 3030 Lohr Circle - it's kind of behind the McDonald's at that intersection near McD's and the Meijer gas station.
wlhneighbor
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 3:15 p.m.
Where exactly is it? There is no building on either bing or google maps. Is it in the shopping center where Kohl's is?
Paula Gardner
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 1:53 p.m.
This restaurant won't be connected to any chain - Nick designed the menu himself and he's working with family members (like his mom and aunt) on the recipes.
tinkerbell
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 1 p.m.
Is this part of the Original House of Pancakes chain? Like the ones in Southfield and Birmingham?
A2K
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 10:59 a.m.
Mmmm, can't wait to try it out~ I've been a fan of the silver-dollar pancakes at Village Kitchen for *ponders* 26 years :O)
greenandblue
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 10:43 a.m.
Townie, if Nick's is anything like his other restaurant, The Broken Egg, there is reason to believe it's a good thing.
townie54
Sat, Dec 12, 2009 : 9:20 a.m.
how can people in your area mention good things when its not even open yet
Fred Posner
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 11:32 p.m.
Looking forward to trying it out this weekend. Several people in my immediate area have only mentioned good things.
Ann Arbor Resident
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 10:59 p.m.
If I recall correctly, this is not part of a chain. It is a stand-alone pancake house and not related to the one's you mentioned. The one in Evanston, IL on Green Bay Road and the one in Park Ridge, IL on Northwest Highway are Walker Bros. Original Pancake House. We can only hope Nick's is as good.
Tii
Fri, Dec 11, 2009 : 9:11 p.m.
Is this restaurant part of the Original Pancake House franchise that is in Birmingham and Evanston Illinois?