Our Story

In 1962 Chuck Thompson was a Wisconsin Dells Junior High teacher when he and his wife, Dianne, took on a couple of new challenges. Firstly, they gave birth to their second daughter, Elizabeth Jane (Liz). Secondly, they decided to purchase the Edwards Pancake House, renaming the restaurant Mr. Pancake.

Edwards Pancake House had been a favorite with the locals for years but when Dianne, a Home Ec major, and an accomplished gourmet cook added her magic to Mr. Pancakes’ menu items the restaurant’s popularity quickly spread.

Being restaurateurs came naturally to the young, energetic Thompsons. They bought several other area restaurants between 1962 and 1964.

Dianne efficiently managed the staff and the kitchens while Chuck took care of the business aspects of each location. Chuck’s ever-ready smile and easy-going manner somehow seemed to make the daily challenges disappear and their determination to provide customers with delicious, affordable menu options and exceptional service became known as  “The Thompson Family’s Tradition of Excellence”.

Daughter Liz Knoop has largely been running the restaurant after Dianne and Chuck Thompson semi-retired. Early in 2022, The Thompsons approached the Del-Bar Supper Clubs owners, Amy Wimmer and Anne Stoken, to see if they would be interested in buying Mr. Pancake and were excited to discover they indeed were.

The common thread of family, tradition, loyal customers, and time-honored recipes made the decision to purchase Mr. Pancake an easy one for the Wimmer sisters. Amy and Anne are excited along with their longtime Del-Bar Chefs Matt and Mike Uptagraw, another sibling team, to continue the tradition and recipes that the Thompson family perfected over the years. Being third-generation owners of The Del-Bar just down the street, they know how critical it is to keep executing customer favorites. Customers of Mr. Pancake will be excited to know the recipes aren’t changing but there will be a few new exciting additions as well as a complete refresh of the interior. Come visit us this summer to see what we’ve done, enjoy a specialty coffee from our new coffee bar, explore a new menu item or dive into your old Mr. Pancake favorites!