City of Waukesha officials will recommend the plan commission deny a proposal to demolish the Weissgerber Gasthaus restaurant and build a strip mall in its place.
CFT Developments LLC., which is registered to Rosemead, Calif.-based Panda Restaurant Group, owner of Panda Express Restaurant, is proposing 9,800 square feet of retail and restaurant space at the site at 2720 N. Grandview Blvd.
A stand-alone Panda Express is also being proposed.
“We have a lot of concerns,” said Maria Pandazi , city planner. “The nature of the retail is not specified, but we are assuming quick turnaround. We also have concerns about their being two drive-through lanes on the site and the intensity of that land use.”
Hans Weissgerber Jr., owner of the Gasthaus Restaurant, said owning and managing the property has been extremely difficult since his brother, Jack, who was his business partner, died in 2013.
“Unfortunately, while my family and I would prefer to continue operating the Gasthaus, either ‘as-is,’ or as a new concept, failure to reach a settlement with Jack’s estate left us no choice but to consider a sale of the property,” Hans Weissgerber said in a statement.
Weissgerber said the prospective buyer has not yet finalized the decision to purchase.
“After 33 years in business, the prospect of closing the Gasthaus restaurant is one of the most emotional and difficult decisions of our life,” Weissgerber said. “The Gasthaus was to be a place where the spirit of ‘Gemuetlichkeit’ brought comfort and enjoyment to many of our guests. “
Weissgerber said his family is committed to maintaining The Golden Mast on Okauchee Lake; Seven Seas in Hartland.
The Waukesha Plan commission will discuss the Gasthaus matter on April 27.
