POULSBO — Those looking forward to the return of Mitzel’s to Poulsbo Village might be disappointed because the popular eatery isn’t coming back. Instead a new as-yet-unnamed restaurant will be built on its foundation.

Mitzel’s was destroyed in a fire May 30, 2006 and its parent company, Elmer’s Restaurant, promised to return to Little Norway as quickly as possible.

“We are hoping for a fall opening,” said Elmer’s Restaurant spokeswoman Kim Van Syoc. “It will not be named Mitzel’s.”

The new restaurant will feature some Mitzel’s favorites, but it will also serve items made from Northwest ingredients, Van Syoc said.

Those who can’t find their Mitzel’s favorite on the restaurant’s new menu can always find them at other Mitzel’s locations, she added.

“It will be warm, inviting and we’re going to have the signature fireplace,” she said. “We know how much the community loved it.”

Actual construction on the new establishment won’t begin for a couple of weeks, but because of the community’s strong desire for its return, the decision was made to get the word out as quickly as possible, Van Syoc said.

“It’s really important to a lot of people,” she said. “We’re paying homage to something that was loved, but looking ahead at the same time.”

As soon as the construction timeline is ready, Elmer’s Restaurant officials will notify the public as well as announce the eatery’s new name once it has been selected.

“We’ve got a couple we’re working from, but we haven’t made a final decision yet,” Van Syoc said.

Thurday’s press release caught Poulsbo Village property manager Bev Lyon off-guard as she said she wasn’t planning on notifying the media until construction actually began.

“It’s taken less than 18 months because there’s been so much cooperation between everyone,” Lyon said.

Despite losing one of its anchor tenants, the Village has continued thriving and the construction won’t impact any businesses in the shopping district, she said.

“There will still be plenty of parking for customers,” Lyon said.