Thiensville's former The Cheel building sold; new restaurant planned - Chili Chili

Nearly two years after The Cheel restaurant closed in Thiensville, the building has been sold to the owners of two popular Milwaukee restaurants who plan to open a new restaurant at the property.

On Sept. 3, Oak Creek-based Tri City National Bank sold the prominent Main Street building to 105 Main LLC for $1.55 million, according to a Wisconsin Department of Revenue deed.

The LLC is run by the owners of Saffron in Milwaukee’s Third Ward and āya in downtown Milwaukee – Fatima and Hanish Kumar – as well as Anup Khallar, a gas station and convenience store operator.

The owners plan to “bring new energy and a new culinary destination to a property that has long been part of the downtown landscape,” according to a Saturday, Sept. 5 news release from the owners.

The building is located in the center of Thiensville’s downtown business district, on the corner of Main Street and Buntrock Avenue at 105 S. Main St.

The building that housed The Cheel restaurant in Thiensville has been sold, with a new restaurant planned there.

It’s not clear what kind of restaurant the owners are planning. And village staff didn’t immediately respond to a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel question Sept. 4 about whether it knows what might be on the horizon.

According to the release, the owners will share more details on the restaurant, its concept and a projected opening date in the coming weeks.

But they did say that the new restaurant would be “an entirely new concept, featuring an original design, fresh culinary direction, and a distinct new name.”

They said they’re collaborating closely with Chef Abhishek Patil, who also led culinary visions at Saffron and āya.

Saffron opened in 2022, offering elevated, traditional Indian cuisine.

Saffron intends for its menu to feature traditional Indian flavors, even if the preparations aren’t traditional. These are bao buns filled with pulled tandoori chicken, an appetizer at the restaurant opening June 4 in the Third Ward.

The Kumars’ other restaurant, āya, opened in February of this year, serving Middle Eastern and Mediterranean food.

“We are thrilled to finalize the purchase of 105 Main Street,” Fatima said in the release. “This property is a focal point for downtown Thiensville, and securing it allows us to invest directly in the future growth and vibrant energy of the local community.”

The owners see “an opportunity to reimagine the property and create a destination that adds to the character and continued momentum of downtown Thiensville,” according to the release.

Here’s a look inside new Milwaukee restaurant āya

1 of 13

Āya is nearly ready to welcome guests on Feb. 17, 2026. The new Milwaukee Mediterranean restaurant from the owners of Saffron is scheduled to open Feb. 23. (Jovanny Hernandez / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

The building’s other owner, Khullar, operates several Andy’s gas stations and convenience stores in the Milwaukee area. He also invests in commercial real estate, including the former Walmart superstore in Milwaukee at 1033 W. Silver Spring Drive and the former Boston Store Furniture Gallery at 18615 W. Bluemound Road in Brookfield.

The sale marks a new chapter for the building after The Cheel, a popular Nepalese restaurant in the village, closed in early November 2024.

The business had first opened in 2014 but was damaged by fire on Nov. 8, 2020, and was forced to close. With the help of a state economic development grant, the restaurant reopened in 2023 before closing a year later.

In January 2025, Tri City National Bank filed a foreclosure lawsuit in Ozaukee County Circuit Court against Cheel LLC, according to online court records. That case led to a default judgment in May 2025 and a sheriff’s sale in January 2026.

The building was first listed for $1.85 million, according to the commercial real estate agency Colliers.