WAUKESHA — After 33 years in business, Gyros West, 1538 E. Moreland Blvd., shuttered its doors in December 2023 to make room for an auto sales and car dealership. On Tuesday and Wednesday, the building was razed leaving rubble and dirt in its wake.
The only thing left was a sign announcing Gyros West’s new hours.
Craig Prosenick rode his bike over to the scene on Wednesday morning. It was his first bike ride since he had an aortic aneurism recently, which was found during a routine echocardiogram. He said he wanted to see the progress of the restaurant being torn down.
He and his wife were longtime patrons of Gyros West.
Prosenick said they went there for 30 years and have mixed feelings about it closing.
“I’m bittersweet but happy for the owners that they get to relax. Tough business nowadays trying to get help and staff,” he said.
Prosenick was fine with the car dealership, noting that there is a need for car dealerships. Although he said he would have preferred it on the other side of Moreland Boulevard.
Prosenick and his wife are now running into issues trying to find a good sit-down place to eat.
Gyros West posted in June 2023 on social media that the owners had reached an agreement for the purchase of its location.
“Our role in Waukesha has been important since the day we opened our doors in March of 1990. We’ve had the pleasure of catering countless events, hosting fundraisers, donating to local organizations, and being a part of our thriving community. It’s been an honor to give back to the place we call home and create a positive impact,” Gyros West’s post said.
Lithia plans to operate a Subaru auto sales and service dealership along the north side of Moreland Boulevard, east of Manhattan Drive. Lithia purchased Waukesha’s Wilde dealerships, including the existing Subaru dealership on Les Paul Parkway. A Conditional Use Permit was issued for 1733 Manhattan Drive, 1530, 1538, 1560, and 1570 E. Moreland Blvd.
“They would like to expand the Subaru dealership and relocate it to the north side of Moreland Boulevard. The proposed location is currently occupied by Gyros West restaurant and several multi-tenant commercial and office buildings. Those buildings will be demolished and replaced with a car dealership plus vehicle storage,” according to meeting documents.
The building will be located near the northeast corner of the newly created property, with a landscape buffer and also a driveway between it and the north property line. It will include a showroom and service shop. The applicants also plan to add a small standalone car wash building to the west of the main dealership. There are proposed parking spaces for 40 employees and 56 customers on-site, meeting documents said.
They also show 40 service storage spaces and 113 inventory vehicle storage spaces on site, and that 437 inventory storage spaces are available off site.
The Waukesha Common Council approved the plans on Nov. 21, 2023.