What's Happening at Park St. Wienerschnitzel?

The sparkling fresh paint on the old Wienerschnitzel building at 1527 Park St. is a sign of good food to come.

Joy Robinson, who grew up in Alameda and attended Notre Dame High School (now St. Joseph Notre Dame), will be opening a gourmet barbecue restaurant there in late summer or fall.

"it will be upscale barbecue, with all fresh ingredients, but still affordable," says Robinson, who is putting in long hours to prepare for the opening.

Still undecided: a name for the new business and an opening date. Robinson says she's still working with city and county agencies to comply with all the regulations that govern restaurant operations.

Meanwhile, she's continuing with her current job, overseeing food service at Fort Hunter Liggett in Jolon, Monterey Co.

Robinson said the restaurant will be mostly takeout, with some outdoor seating on site. She's hoping to add other services — catering, delivery, perhaps even carhops reminiscent of old-time drive-ins — after the business opens. 

Her son, Lawrence Robinson, will be one of the chefs, and she's looking for another cook as well.

Wienerschnizel, a hot dog franchise which occupied the distinctive structure since at least the 1970s, closed without fanfare earlier this year, and the building was vacant for several months.