TOLEDO, Ohio — Pancakes, car washes and speculation made their way through Toledo this past weekend.
Uncle John's Pancake House, which has been on Secor Road for 63 years is relocating.
That's according to their owner of 11 years, Sal Tubeileh.
On Saturday, Tubeileh announced his decision to sell the property to the Whitewater Express car wash next door so the car wash could expand their business.
A day later, Tubeileh says the move is not about the money but the community. He says he hopes Uncle John's can continue to expand their services even if it means moving from their long-time location.
"I mean we do have enough car washes, but once again the decision wasn't based on what's their needs, the decision was based on what's our needs," said Tubeleih.
Tubeleih says he's been mulling over the decision for over a year.
He says his relocation plans will allow him to expand and update restaurant amenities like the bathrooms, parking lots and kitchen.
Tubeileh wanted to make sure he kept his staff in the loop about the decision, letting them know they wouldn't be losing their jobs after the sale.
"I haven't had one employee say no. They're really excited about it," he said.
One of those employees was Brekelle Kreger.
She said she was afraid the restaurant would close for good but is relieved the business will be keeping everyone together.
"I'm glad that we're able to relocate; to just keep the same employees and the same vibe just in another building," Kreger said.
Other workers like Selena Christopher are happy to relocate to a bigger space and hopefully better working environment.
"It's going to be way better. We'll have heating in the winter and it's not going to be 900 degrees in the winter, and we all are pretty much staying," said Christopher.
Michelle Bauer is a regular diner at the popular spot and said her sister worked there in the 1980s. She said she is sad to see it go but glad to know it will only be moving.
"I've been coming here ever since I was a kid. I remember the silver dollar pancakes and they would come to your table with a lazy susan full of different syrups," said Bauer.
Tubeileh says he cannot disclose the deal until it's finalized and plans to stay at the Secor Road Location until March 31.
"There's a nostalgia that's been here 60 years. It has nothing to do with the money it has to do with continuing," said Tubeileh. "I want to keep Uncle John's in Toledo for years to come and maybe my son will come into Toledo and run it at some point."
His son, Noah Tubeileh said the staff will be able to get through the move because of the close-knit connections they have created over the years.
"I don't think it's going to be the most difficult thing in the world because our staff is basically just a family. I couldn't imagine living without any one of them in my life," he said.
As far as where the new restaurant will be moving to, Uncle John's said this.
"We don't have an exact location just yet. We have a few prospective properties, but nothing official. We would ideally like to stay around the same area. A lot of property owners have been reaching out to us to offer a possible space, UT being one of them."