Kathy and Abe Asani’s kids are all grown and out of the house now, and she really loves her work. So when she saw a for lease sign on the former Zeeb Rd. Big Boy, she thought “why not?” After twenty-nine years running Abe’s Coney Island in Ypsilanti, the Asanis signed the lease, redid the decor with a maize-and-blue theme, and reopened in late October as Kathy’s House of Pancakes.
“I’m here from 5:30 [a.m.] to 9:30 [p.m.] every day since I’ve opened,” says Kathy, laughing, “I love to work, I don’t have any other hobbies!” Many family members–including three adult children, a daughter-in-law, and a brother-in-law–help keep both places running.
The menu features traditional breakfasts like pancakes, crepes, waffles, and eggs, and lunch and dinner fare like salads, sandwiches, and gyros. “We have a little bit of everything,” she says, including both vegan and gluten-free options–even gluten-free pancakes.
The first time we visited Kathy’s, during a busy Sunday brunch, an unexpected area power outage had just shut down the kitchen. The crowd seemed good natured about the misfortune, but more than a few faces fell at the prospect of missing out on breakfast.
Kathy’s House of Pancakes, 497 N. Zeeb Rd. 882-2538. Daily 6 a.m.-9 p.m.
