Waffles Kafé to Replace Former Lumes Pancake House; Liquor License Approved

Village of Frankfort Board Meeting | December 1, 2025

Article Summary: The Frankfort Village Board approved a Special Use Permit and a liquor license amendment to pave the way for Waffles Kafé, a new breakfast and lunch restaurant. The establishment will fill the vacancy left by Lumes Pancake House on South LaGrange Road.

Waffles Kafé Approval Key Points:

• Location: 20594 S. LaGrange Road (formerly Lumes Pancake House).

• Owners: Applicants Peter and Billy Les, whose family also owns Williamson’s Restaurant and Bar in New Lenox.

• Liquor License: The Village Board increased the number of Class E-1 licenses from four to five to accommodate the restaurant’s request to serve alcohol.

• Operations: The restaurant will operate daily from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch, and alcoholic beverages like mimosas and Bloody Marys via wait staff.

FRANKFORT – The Frankfort Village Board on Monday, December 1, 2025, unanimously approved measures allowing a new dining establishment to open in the space formerly occupied by Lumes Pancake House.

Trustees voted to grant a Special Use Permit for a full-service restaurant with liquor sales to applicants Peter and Billy Les for the property located at 20594 S. LaGrange Road. The business, named Waffles Kafé, will operate as a breakfast and lunch venue.

“Applicants Peter and Billy Les propose to operate Waffles Kafé… to accommodate the proposed business in the B-2 Community Business District,” said Trustee Maura Rigoni.

According to the Plan Commission report, the restaurant will serve a wide variety of breakfast and lunch options, along with coffee, tea, and alcoholic beverages such as mimosas and alcoholic coffees. The floor plan indicates there will be no bar area; alcohol will be served to customers at their tables by wait staff. The restaurant intends to make only cosmetic updates to the interior, such as flooring and paint.

In a separate action during the Mayor’s Report, the Board approved an amendment to the Village’s liquor code.

“I entertain a motion from the floor to adopt an amendment to the Liquor Code Ordinance authorizing an increase in the number of Class E-1 licenses… from four to five,” said Mayor Keith Ogle. “This amendment accommodates liquor sales at Waffles Kafé.”

The Class E-1 license is designated for restaurants and prohibits bar seating and carry-out alcohol sales.

“Congratulations to the Waffle Cafe. Nice to have you,” said Trustee Gene Savaria during board comments.

Trustee Maura Rigoni noted that the Plan Commission had forwarded a unanimous recommendation to the Village Board to approve the request following a public hearing on November 13, 2025.