About Us
Our Leadership Team

Ernst “Ricky” F. Lehrmann, IV
Co-Founder and Co-Managing Member
Ricky has owned and operated The Pancakery in Destin since 2011. He has experience in every aspect of the restaurant, front of the house, back of the house, and behind the scenes.
Favorite Quote: "You get what you give".
Mona Weiss
Managing Partner
Mona has a degree in Business and has been with The Pancakery since its inception in 2011. She became a Managing Partner in 2017 and has extensive hands-on experience in all restaurant operations. She meticulously maintains revenue records and financial reporting.
Favorite Quote: "More is caught Than taught. I believe in leading by example".
Daryl A. Battaglia, Jr.
Co-Founder and Co-Managing Member
Having been a teacher and a corporate restaurant general manager prior to starting The Pancakery, Daryl already had a foundation of working with and leading people. It is Daryl's passion and expertise to bring in the right people and help them learn, grow, and thrive at The Pancakery.
Favorite Quote: "The Harder I work, The Luckier I get".

Our Mission
To bring people together, giving them the best start to their day with the best food and friendliest service

Our Vision
To be a fun, familiar (community) gathering place that squashes hunger, excites taste buds, makes memories and celebrates life
Core Values
Family, Friends, Community!
Bringing people together
Enjoy brunch, a cocktail, and life!
Community and guest centric.
Our Story

Growing up in St. Bernard Parish, New Orleans’ most historic neighbor and a place where no one is a stranger, Daryl Battaglia and Ricky Lehrmann started small. The boys met in middle school where their friendship was forged through shared interests in sports and music. They fostered their entrepreneurial spirits by selling candy, baseball cards, and magazines together

They were college roommates, and Ricky first learned about the restaurant industry by becoming a pizza delivery man. Both became high school teachers in St. Bernard Parish. A few years later, however, Hurricane Katrina and uprooted their lives. Daryl and Ricky were resilient. Daryl found temporary teaching work in northern Louisiana; Ricky became a fire fighter and played a role in rebuilding their community as a general contractor

When Daryl left teaching and joined McDonald’s management, he enjoyed the restaurant industry, but not the long hours. He wanted a restaurant model that valued life balance. Ricky, with his hands-on experience in construction, was once again the perfect partner. Together, they envisioned a breakfast place that emphasized family, quality, community, and work-life balance

Their combined passion and experience led to The Pancakery restaurant in Destin, FL. We took some risks, but with support from friends and family, their dream restaurant became a reality in just two months

Their initial days saw challenges, like running out of pancake ingredients on a bustling weekend, but they persisted. Although totally committed to the business, they kept their afternoons and evenings free, striking the life balance they had envisioned

The Pancakery’s success in Destin was the spark for expansion. Drawing on their experience and a growing, competent team, they expanded to Panama City Beach, FL. The brand's growth was a testament to their hard work, unique offerings, and relentless focus on improvement

The Pancakery business is more than a successful business model. It provides an opportunity to participate in a brand that values family, life-balance, community, and quality. Daryl and Ricky's resilience, vision, and commitment to quality provide the foundation for their success
History & Growth Milestones
2011

First Location Opens on National Pancake Day.
2013

Added Burgers To Menu.
2013

Destin location reached $1M in sales.
2015

Added selection of eggs benedicts.
2017

Expanded lunch menu with wraps.
2017

Opened 2nd location in Panama City, FL.
2017

Added avocados to the menu.
2017

Destin location reached $1.5M in sales.
2018

Hurricane Michael hit Panama City; lucky to have little damage; offered meals to community; achieved $1M in sales.
2018

Full bar opens at both locations with cocktail menu.
2022

Panama City location surpasses $2M in sales.
2024

Pancakery pancake mix is packaged; used in both locations and for future franchisees.
2024
Franchises Available!
We are franchising! The Pancakery is expanding across the USA, and we welcome you to inquire about ownership as a Pancakery franchisee!
See How We "Stack Up"!
Flip the script on traditional restaurant ownership and join The Pancakery! Be part of our story and serve up smiles by day, savoring family time by night.
Contact us to learn more about this exciting franchise opportunity!
Available Territories
The Pancakery Franchise locations are available now in states listed in green. States shown in yellow are coming soon. All other states are scheduled for future expansion and subject to change.
Contact us directly for franchise territories in specific cities and towns, as there may be additional opportunities not reflected in this map.
Have Questions about franchise territories? Contact us today.
Continue Exploring
Get Started
Learn how you can be part of our story - serving up smiles by day and savoring family time by night. Let’s create a place where every meal is a celebration, and every day brings you home in time for those cherished moments in life.
