BAY RIDGE — After months of delays, German restaurant Schnitzel Haus seems to be making its official comeback to Bay Ridge.
Owner Fred Urban announced that the restaurant is just weeks away from opening its new location, 114 Bay Ridge Ave.
The space used to be Casa Pepe, a Spanish restaurant that closed in 2019 after being in the neighborhood for 40 years.
The old Schnitzel Haus location at 7319 Fifth Ave. closed its doors last October. It was open for 18 years.
“We truly underestimated the amount of work required to get up and running and the obstacles that the city throws at small business owners,” he said. “But we are getting there. A few more weeks.”
Urban posted a couple of exterior photos on Facebook as work started.
Work continues for the new Schnitzel Haus location, the former site of Casa Pepe. Photo: Fred Urban
“Can’t wait for [wife and co-owner] Amber and me to open our doors and welcome everyone into our new place,” he told his customers. “We miss you all. We truly want to have everyone experience the hard work that we have put into renovating.”
The new location was slated to open sooner, but obstacles have delayed the opening. During a Community Board 10 meeting on Feb. 23, Urban received support from community members.
“We’re helping to revitalize the area where this place has been closed for over six years and falling apart,” Urban told the Brooklyn Eagle. “[The building] became pigeon central and looked really bad.”
Urban called it a new facelift for the neighborhood, noting that the only place to eat in the area is a pizzeria across the street, so many people are excited.
“We have at least 10 people, if not more, stop by on the daily, trying to take a sneak peek and wishing us lots of luck.”