New restaurant planned for the former Original Pancake House location on Downer

A new full-service restaurant is planning to take over the old Original Pancake House space on the east side of Milwaukee. Canela Cafe is targeting a July 1 opening at 2621 N. Downer Ave. It will serve breakfast and lunch, with daily opening hours from 7 a.m. at 3 p.m., according to a license application submitted by Dina Bouraxis-Awadallah, who is listed as the sole owner. closed its Downer Avenue location in January after suffering financially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The company had occupied the 4,650 square foot space for more than a decade. Dominion Properties, based in Milwaukee, has owned the North Downer Avenue building for 10 years. Its breakfast menu includes pancakes, Belgian waffles and hash corned beef, as well as baked goods. Lunch includes salads, sandwiches and wraps. Alcohol will also be served. Bouraxis-Awadallah will present operating plans and answer questions from the public at a virtual neighborhood meeting scheduled for May 18.