Grand Forks’ Bronze Boot restaurant, established 1954, is closed and for sale
May 16, 2012 at 8:07 am in Grand Forks Herald
Open since 1954, the Bronze Boot Steakhouse and Lounge in Grand Forks will not reopen anytime soon: It is for sale. Continue Reading
That is really too bad. I went there jsut about every birthday since I got here. It’s clear Terry Fonder wanted to sqeeze every penny he could out of the place, and embarked on a strategy of deferred maintenence. He assumed his clientele was so loyal they would put up with a leaking roof and no airconditioning for years. The city is lessened by its closing, since mediocre franchise restaurants have pretty much taken over. Had his father beuqeathed him a car, he likely would have driven it into the ground, and left it on the side of the road when it quit running.
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I truly enjoyed their cuisine. It is sad to see it close, hopefully it will be resurrected. The daily buffets, the steaks, the split crab legs, and the augratin potatoes were excellent in my view.
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What made BB what it was was its reputation. Its ability to develop a clientele over the decades. This is what happens when someone builds a business. The son let it die. Not the first time a Grand Forks goldmine restaurant expired when a son was working on his parents’ dime. Problem is, BB is located on the far northside. Everything else is now in the southend. My bet is he sells the property, the building gets torn down, and it only exists as a memory.
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A damned shame.
OTOH, would you invest money in a building owned by someone else? Do I not understand? The most hateful, evil bank in Grand Forks actually owns the place, Fonder just ran/managed the business it housed?
So I don’t understand the business decisions made…I do miss the Boot.
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The whole story is just another example of the lazy reporting of the Herald. They didn’t even give the by-line to anyone, and they quote a Marilyn “Dear Shirley” letter, instead of calling the Alerus themselves. I get the impression the son borrowed against the restaurant and couldn’t pay back the loan. Thus the bank took possession. But given the useless Herald reporting, that’s all speculation.
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I see two Herald employees disliked my coment. Tough!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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Hidden due to low comment rating. Click here to see.
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So here is what will eventually happen. The Alerus Bank has a non-revenue producing building on its hands. They will get the chairman of their BoD, Hal Gershman, to propose that the city buy it, at a premium of course, and for economic development. Then it will be torn down.
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Or another scenario: the city buys it, rehabs it at taxpayer expense, and sells it to Kim Holmes for a dollar.
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City buys it, rehabs it at taxpayer expense, and uses it as a catering service for oil field workers in Williston. The food prices are subsidized and an outside firm from Chicago or Minneapolis is hired to manage the place.
City is dumbfounded to discover that almost no oilfield workers buy cold, two-day-old soup and stale sandwiches.
Eventually, fresh astroturf is installed for four million dollars, and UND uses it for a Girls Football practice field.
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City buys it, rehabs it at taxpayer expense. Tells everyone that Amazon is going to move in.
Amazon fails to move in.
Governor tells City Council to “get bent.”
Boot is torn down.
Hot debate. What do you think?
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City buys it. Rehabs it at taxpayer expense. Turns it into several offices and retail spaces.
Offices and retail spaces sit vacant for fifteen G-D years, and no-one at City Hall seems to notice. Just like Down Town, as the saying goes.
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City buys it, rehabs it at taxpayer expense, and turns it into an indoor skateboard park. No one shows up because it doesn’t have donuts.
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Fess up people, how many of you got the “donuts” allusion?
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I got it. I like the indoor skate park idea. I am surprised no one has suggested yet another hockey rink. The pee wees could use it. When my number 3 son was in hockey when he was 6, I hated freezing my tush off outside because the “big kids” got all the indoor ice. I think a pee wee rink seems only fair
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Gene DuBois said: On May 16, 2012 at 8:40 PM
“So here is what will eventually happen. The Alerus Bank has a non-revenue producing building on its hands. They will get the chairman of their BoD, Hal Gershman, to propose that the city buy it, at a premium of course, and for economic development. Then it will be torn down.”
Tsk tsk tsk Gene. Please don’t make disparaging remarks about the higher ups at Alerus. They can’t help it that they’re apparently all on that new medication called Nobrainzatol.
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I stand sufficiently chastised.
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I went there once, and was seriously underwhelmed. My dining partner ordered a steak, but it came with stuffing. My friend, who has celiac disease, asked for no stuffing. She was told by the German waitress that “she must have the stuffing on her plate, as that’s how the kitchen prepares it.” Sure, stuffing can kill this customer, but THAT’S THE WAY THE PLATE COMES!! Good riddance.
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Wasn’t that just like Trudy? Deutsche Ordnung at its finest. But I still loved her.
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I have Celiac s well but I know for fact the stuffing wouldn’t kill yur friend but it would have made them very sick. I went to the Boot last year for my birthday and asked for no croutons on my salad and it came with no croutons. I think it depends on the server. Your friend should have just sent it back and if refused asked to talk to the manager. Which may or may not gotten results.
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It will become an adult toy store soon to be the equivalent of a discount “strip” mall district to intercept the $$ westbound traffic will otherwise spend in western ND “strip” malls .
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Good place to eat but its been a brown sneaker for some time now.
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North Dakotans are pathologically adverse to change; I get that. They believe that just because something has always been there is reason enough for it to continue. That is one of ND strengths. It is also its most glaring weakness.
I went to the BB once and completely agree with the commenter above who was completely underwhelmed.
I am all for locally owned businesses and utilize them whenever possible. I also agree with Gene that most national chains have homogenized themselves into mediocracy. That said, if the local business is inferior to the mediocre national chain, I am not going to spend my money there.
That is what happened with the BB. For whatever reason (it really is unimportant) the people in power let it go. That is too bad, but it is how capitalism works. You do not get a free pass just because you have seniority. If you fail to produce you are let go. Any business, from Walmart and Microsoft on down to the local mom and pop corner store are only as good as their last year’s tax return.
Don’t shoot the messenger. I did not make the rules. That is just how things work.
The building is old and long in the tooth. Tearing it down is not a bad thing. Lets just hope that it resurrects itself into something worthy of the effort.
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Good points. Given its location I don’t see it ending up as anything more than an empty lot.
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I would be fine with it ending up as an empty lot. I just wish there was a place in Grand Forks with fine food, ambiance, and great service. The River Bend, Whiteys, and the Bronze Boot were all great places to go one time. Now two are gone and from what I’ve heard the third will be going. Change is good, but in this case, memories are better.
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As long as Grand Forks’ great wet dream was an Olive Garden, there’s not much hope for many good restaurants here.
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Several months ago the Harold ran an editorial I wrote about where are all the local eateries? Grandma Butterwicks is the only local choice for breakfast – my favorite meal to eat out – that I can think of off the top of my head. I Hop (formerly Village Inn om 32) have always had the worst service – they are chronically understaffed & the poor kids run their butts off). The two truck stops are old standby but not exactly the best place for lunch after church.
In Tucson there was this hole in the wall that was open from 0530 – 1400. Nothing on the menu was healthy, but everything was muy bueno. Do one thing (breakfast & lunch) & do it well.
I would love to import it here
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For breakfast the 2-29 Truck Stop is great. My favorite, the ham and cheese omlette, is stuffed with ham. Service is excellent too. Perkins has gotten better over the years, from when they had two people covering the whole place. Prices have gone way up…likely due to commodities.
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Flying, there are several locally owned choices for breakfast including Dell’s Cafe which has been around much longer than Grandma Butterwicks, Darcy’s Cafe and the Northside cafe. I’ll leave out the truckstops, Eagle’s Crest Grill’s Sunday breakfast, and Dakota Harvest Bakers since your focus seems to be on traditional “cafes”.
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Where are Dell and Darcy’s. I am always looking for good breakfast joints.
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How could you have lived in GF as long as you have & not know where breakfast places are since that is your favorite meal to eat out?
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Your “hole in the wall” in Tuscon is exactly what Darcy’s is. I even think the hours are the same.
They are located on the corner of 11th Ave N and Washington.
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Dells’ is in the Grand Cities mall by Kmart.
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Glad to see folks mentioning Del’s here … one of my favorite places to dine … typically try and support the local businessmen and women before going chains, and Del’s and Italian Moon are at the top of the list!
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Where did you hear Whitey’s is going belly-up. It just opened.
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fn, you would really like Darcy’s. It is on North Washington just a couple blocks south of the El Roco. Great place for breakfast or lunch (they are not open past 2 pm). It is named after the past owner, same guy that owned the boot.
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Darcy’s can be hard to find. If you head north on Washington, it’s on your left before you get to Gateway. I thinks it’s 11th or 12th Avenue.
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OK, what dolt could dislike a question?
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Thanks guys. You can look for me there soon!
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Sanders? Toasted Frog? Red Pepper?
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Darcy’s is about a block or so south of Acme Electric.
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I never understood the hype about Red Pepper….the food was mediocre at best.My wife and I were thoroughly unimpressed when we ate there shortly after moving to Grand Forks and hearing everyone rave about it. We tried it again(thinking that the first time was just a fluke) and it was no different.
As for Toasted Frog and Sanders, I would say that they are two of the very few fine dining restaurants in Grand Forks. They have some of the best food in Grand Forks and are about the only places in town that I can see going for an anniversary or other big celebratory event. That said, if you put those two restaurants in any other major city they too would not be anything special. When the bar is set by chain restaurants, as is the case in Grand Forks, the “high end” restaurants don’t have to push themselves too hard to seem high end.
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Nearly every time we went there the service was lousy and the food was nothing exceptional. In my opinion the place was highly overrated!
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Grand Forks area needs a quiet place to relax and have a good meal. The Riverbend was okay and now that is gone. the Boot was okay as well. The Texas Roadhouse is good but it’s too loud and confusing. People like a good steak and seafood now and then and still be able to hear the conversation. Anyone who builds a flat roof building ( as the Boot has) in this climate should be arrested. Something between a Ruth Chris and Roadhouse would probably sell.
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Sanders? Toasted Frog?
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Both places are downtown. Toasted Frog is next to Joe Black’s on north 3rd St. Sander’s is on South 3rd. Both are upscale dining. I’ve experienced the Toasted Frog (very good) but not Sander’s though I hear it’s wonderful.
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The Frog may be the best restaurant in GF. Some believe Sanders has gone downhill.
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Sander’s has not gone downhill at all. I have been a regular at Sander’s for 25 years and it is as good as always. Their service puts everyone else’s service in town to shame. But then even Las Vegas, with a lot of great Chinese restaurants, people’s choice for best Chinese is PF Changs. That shows what America wants for restaurants, chains with no imagination or taste. Why else would that fake Mexican restaurant be such a gold mine.
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I’m going outside the area with this review…the restaurant in the Clearwater Travel Plaza is excellent. I’m sure plenty of you already knew that.
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As for Sanders, we’ll just have to disagree. The fake Mexican restaurant does well because it serves Norwegian-Mexican food to people who also believe coffee should be the color of tea.
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lowrent, you are spot on with you comment.
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What’s worse about a flat roof is Not even putting any maintenance into it! I don’t think any kind of work or repairs have even been done to BB in the past 15 years. Flat roofs need work done to them every 7 to 10 years before they become an indoor sprinkler system. The way he let the place go as it did is embarrassing. Fonder should have kept up with the work on the building, not just the book keeping, cooking. Just as any homeowner that has a loan on a house or vehicle.
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Maybe the city could buy it and spend a few million to build another wellness center. Nah–the people on the northend of town probably mow their own lawns in the summer and shovel their own driveways and sidewalks in the winter as opposed to the people on the southend of town who hire out to have their lawns mowed and hire out for snow removal. Then they pay money to a join a wellness center to get some exercise.
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so whats your point ???? sell that shack on the north end and move south . LOL get real ..
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I live on the southend and do my own mowing and snow removal. While I’m at it, I do my neighbors snow removal since they don’t have a snow thrower. I used to mow my elderly neighbor’s yard before he passed away as long as I was doing my own. Try helping others out who need help if you need exercise and you won’t need a membership to a fitness center.
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If true….you sound like a good neighbor Vince.
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This is too bad. I loved the Boot and will miss it. Trudy was a gem of a server.
Grand Forks used to have a lot of great local stores, cafes and restaurants but they’re almost all gone now. It’s happens again and again where the older generation worked hard to establish a business only to have it destroyed by the offspring. Don Miller’s sons ran their father’s supermarket into the ground, Rob Larson ruined his father’s Bill Larson Company, Steve Silverman and his father’s clothing store, now Fonder’s place is gone.
Grand Forks has no individual identity anymore with nothing but chain stores and restaurants that are available everywhere else.
Remember The Golden Hour, The Palace, Phil and Lil’s, Seeger’s, S & L, Hanson Ford, Norby’s Griffith’s, Silverman’s, Absey Motors, Room For Reading Bookship, that gave Grand Forks a unique identity. All gone now.
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Good points. My old man taught me that you never appreciate things that are just given to you, because you didn’t work to build them up. All the places you mention underscore that. You left out Lola’s, though.
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Definitely. If you are handed something you won’t appreciate it as much as something you worked for. And yes, I forgot Lola’s!
Grand Forks had many terrific local restaurants but only a handful remain. I like to buy from and support local business so hopefully they’ll survive the competition from large chains that have invaded Grand Forks.
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Aw geez—-did you have to remind me of Phil and Lil’s—you’re making me drool.
And don’t forget the A&W. At least we still have the Kegs although it was never the same on Friday and Saturday nights when you couldn’t use up all your parents gas driving around the block all night. All the baby boomers will know what I’m talking about.
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So you drool, and mention A & W. Thanks a lot! I haven’t had a decent frosty mug of root beer since they closed.
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Now I wish there was an A&W in GF area.
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Haven’t you ever been to the UND Memorial Union food court?
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Don’t forget Franks Cafe….. I really liked that place.
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Or Giuliana’s. Best Italian place at the time.
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The old Del’s before they moved to the South Forks Plaza.
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Del’s used to be an Italian restaurant?
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I forgot about Frank’s. That was the place to go for chow mein! I miss that. Also Gibb’s A & W was a special treat for teen burgers and a frosty mug of root beer. They kept the place up beautifully.
Where was Giuliana’s ? I don’t remember it and where was Del’s located before it moved to South Forks Plaza?
Grand Forks has been homogenized with chain restaurants you can find in every city. A local establishment gives a town a unique feel. Whenever I travel I like to eat at the local restaurants and skip the endless Perkins, Applebees, Red Lobsters, IHOPs, Ruby Tuesdays and Olive Gardens you find in every city.
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Forgot to add…. a few months ago a couple of fellows from New York City were in Grand Forks for a couple of days and they wanted to try out the local establishments. After wondering where to take them I decided on The Bronze Boot. They said that was the best meal they had on their trip. They took photos of the building and the mid-century modern sign. They thought it was wonderful a restaurant retained it’s original decor like the Boot. That says a lot about the place when New Yorkers who travel extensively say a place in Grand Forks was the best.
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Del’s was about where the Starbucks is next to the DQ/Orange Julius on South Washington…somewhere right in that location.
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Wasn’t that Phil & Lil’s?
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That was Phillthy Lil’s.
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Thank you for straightening me out. I barely recall eating there with my grandparents.
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At one time Giuliana’s was in EGF near Pamida. In GF I believe it was on South Washington where Topper’s was.
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Of course! Now I remember Giuliana’s! We ate there often both when it was in the Mr Steak / Topper’s location and near EGF Hugo’s. That building was several restaurants. There was once a Mexican restaurant that didn’t last too long but I remember the food was good and the owner was also a server / hostess and was very good.
Who remembers the miniature golf course on South Washington where Paradiso is now? And Henry’s Hamburgers and King Leo’s across the street? Yes those were fast food chain stores but they’re all history now.
The Columbia Hotel was run down when I remember it. Also the Northern Hotel. Self-Service Furniture City was on North 3rd Street, Sears was across street on N 3rd. Bill Larson Company was on S 4th St. Rand Shoes was on DeMers. I remember the glossy black front of the Riviera lounge on N3rd and The Clock cafe in the Ryan Hotel. There was a cafe in the basement of Griffith’s too. Davis Jewelry on on S 3rd but moved to Columbia Mall.
The memories are flowing!
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What was the name of the men’s clothing store on North 3rd street next to Griffith’s, Roller’s Office Supply and Room for Reading Bookshop. I remember buying clothes there but don’t remember the name.
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Wasn’t it Ruetell’s? I remember going there in high school, they had a part of it that was called “The Body Shop”. Also, shopping a MrDonalds, racing model cars in the basement at Benners.
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Yes, it was Ruetell’s! Thank you for the info. And who can forget Benner’s Hobby Shop. My Mother would take me there once a week to get a Matchbox car for 35¢. I bought a slot car just to race in Benner’s basement.
Next door to Benner’s was Freidman Furs. Across the street was Hoffman’s clothing. Across the railroad tracks and down the street was 4th Street Coffee Shop.
Then on S 3rd was the Uptown Cafe in the Opera House, further south was the Frontier Bar and McGuire’s Bar. At least Widman’s is still there and thriving. I hope they last for many years.
As Joni Mitchell says: Don’t it always seem to go and you don’t know what you’ve got ’till it’s gone.
What a trip down memory lane this has been! Bronze Boot, you must reopen…
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I think that was the Speak Easy originally.
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Mike and Tom did not run their dad’s store into the ground. For one thing the store was not open that long after Don died. Steve did not ruin his father’s either. Both businesses were victims of time and the sons had other interests. As for Lola’s that only needs one word to describe what went wrong there, Doug.
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I have a great anecdote about Lola’s. We were heading there to eat and had KCNN on the radio. News came on, and the first story was that a bench warrant had been issued for Doug for failure to appear. Got to Lola’s and went to the bar. Asked the bartender where his boss was. “At his lake cabin.” Told him to better give him call and tell him to hustle his tuchus back to Grand Forks.
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You have to give the owners of the Bronze Boot credit throughout the years. There aren’t too many restaurants that are not chained that go almost 60 years. I forgot about the Toasted Frog and Sanders as far as upscale dining. I haven’t eaten at the Frog but Sanders was very pleasant. Do you think the Grand Forks area could handle a Ruth Chris, or Manny’s? I suppose if Fargo doesn’t have either one then Grand Forks would be out of the question especially in this economy. Aw, let’s splurge.
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Some of you are talking about some of the old spots, and some of them being greasy spoons……You have to be in your 50′s to remember what Demers used to look like across from the depot before Urban Renewal….There used to be a eal greasy spoon called the “Tip Top” where you could actually get a burger for a dime. For 15 cents you could have a burger and a soda…..Of course the burger was about the size of a silver dollar, and the stool next to you most likely sat a hobo, but as kids that place was cool as hell….Especially since we were told to stay away from that bad part of town. Hard to believe that part of Demers had really become a slum area back in the early 60′s. It looked absolutely nothing like the Demers you see today……Long before the overpass too….
Then again if you turned the clock back a couple more decades and that part of town was set up nice for all those people getting off the train. The old Columbia Hotel was a pretty fancy place in it’s time with nice suits and great dining…Used to be right across from the Depot….By the 60′s it was becoming a dive….Not as bad as the Nothern, but bad enough. That whole down town area used to look so different. I wish I knew where I could see some pictures of how it looked when I was a kid…..I remember most of it, but it would be fun to see again…
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Tundrabeast—If you’d like to see old pictures of places in Grand Forks, you can go to Ebay and type in Grand Forks ND and look at the old picture post cards for sale. Here’s an example: http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-GRAND-FORKS-ND-POSTCARD-1950S-AUTOS-DE-MERS-AVENUE-31312A-/150818433835?pt=
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Thanks…Those were super cool…I’d like to see more pictures like that. The one of the original Forks library were great too. That was a great building…..I suppose it was too expensive to keep heating two libraries, but they should have kept that one besides the new one…I mean it was right across from the high school and the way it was built was like most of the down town buildings back then…To last for a very long time.
There must be someplace in town with a good selection of old Grand Forks photos. I think UND has some, but not sure where…
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Non chain places, Lolas, Toasted Frog, Sanders, Blue Moose, Bronze Boot, Mexican Village & numerous others. Is a place a chain just because it has 2 or 3 locations between GF/Fargo/Bismarck/Minot like Drunken Noodle, Pardisio & a few others. Dining in GF is better than ever in spite of the chains.
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I personally cannot wait till the noodle joint opens. Every time I drive by it looks like construction is stalled. I hope they did not run out of financing.
As for MX food, MX Village is by far the best. I still like Paradiso and it is always the old standby when it comes to birthday dinner for the kids. That said, there is nothing “authentic” about their food. My wife is MX and I lived in AZ for 6 years so I am a little biased. American MX food is to “real” MX food as Panda Express is to “real” Chinese food.
I am not knocking it, like I said I spend a considerable amount of money there, I just giggle at people talking about “real” MX food in ND. Haven’t found it yet and I don’t expect to. It is just one of the tradeoffs you make when you choose where to live. No one in Tucson or PHX (outside of a few snowbirds) knows what Lefsa is.
That is why it is called “regional” food
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I know what hyou mean….I have the real deal in TX all the time….The TX, AZ, NM, CA….Whjen they refer to “South of the border” They’re referring to the Mexican border….I really think they mean the Canacian border up here because these Mexican eateries are basically an American interpretation of what Mexican food is prepared like.
Hell…Some of the best Mexican food I ever get is off lunch wagaons a sites I deliver to…Expecially the wagons with a grill and a cook inside…..Which I have a sneaking suspicion is probably the real deal directly from Mexico most of the time….I get that idea from the fact that the peron outside the truck has to interpret the order to them in Spanish…..But damn it’s good…
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Amen Tundra. When I lived in Tucson there was a Sonoran hotdog stand on every major street. One Sonoran hotdog, 3 “real” tacos, & a strawberry Jaritos (MX soda pop).
I’m tearing up.
Anyone know where to get a decent perogie in GF. Seems I have to go to WI to find good ones.
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Paradiso is as authentic as its name.
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Good question. I don’t consider Rhombus a chain, but it’s getting there.
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What?? This makes no sense at all.
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I don’t understand who would buy this place at best it needs a new roof and remodel and at worst you need a whole new building because the old one is that far gone.
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I stil wouldn’t put it past the city council.
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Or, maybe what could happen would be what occurs when houses are up for sale in the north end: someone buys it and rents it out to students. It already has a bar.
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It sounds like a great investment property for you Gene. You could spend your evenings and your weekends remodeling it with your lifetime’s worth of savings. I suggest that on Monday you meet with a financial planner at the Alerus Bank and get the ball rolling before someone else snatches it out from under you. I think with your wit and your wisdom you would make a great bartender.
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I do have a whole bunch of jokes that can only be repeated in a bar.
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“I do have a whole bunch of jokes that can only be repeated in a bar.”
Like:
A priest. a rabbi, and a minister (nope, certain moderation)
Ole, Lena, and Sven ” ” ”
A man walks into a bar ” ” ”
A traveling salesman goes up to a farmhouse ”
Guess I can’t tell them here
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Excellent idea tj. However, I think that in order to compete with the former Westward Ho that is now known as ‘The Ho’, Gene should consider renaming it ‘The Bootie’
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I’m sure he would be well known for the quality of his meat.
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Not a bad idea. I could offer a box lunch special.
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lol
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Is that even a location anyone would want to gamble on regardless how good it was?
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Well, I could tear up the asphalt, plant grass, and hire tj to lay out there in her bikini. That would bring in the customers.
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Oh yeah….I would do that….never.
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Hey, it was your idea for me to start in; I could use some support.
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Or here’s another idea. I could set it up on a Hooters theme and call it Bazooms. tj could be the first waitress.
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Not original enough, Gene. Far better to set up something unique like say…oh I don’t know…..maybe an aquatic theme. Have the waitresses dress up as sharks and rename it the ‘Alerus Bar and Grill’.
“Hi, my name is Ima Dumass and I’ll be your Sharkette this evening. Can I get you started off with something to drink?”
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Too bad the building is toast…It might be the one place that Fantasy could move in to…..Oh wait…There’s a trailer park by there so I suppose that’s too close to kids too….Good thing they haven’t had the old Club 81 strip bar out there for a long time then…The Boot is going down because of water and the Club 81 that wasn’t too far from them went down in fire…..
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How about this, Vince:
We get the roller derby ladies as waitresses, and they put on a match for the diners? Sort of a variant of a dinner theater. Strap on those skates, tj.
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I’m going to be at the Purpur tonight to do some scouting.
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The Roller Derby idea is bloody brilliant. I love it. At the Excalibur in Vegas they have that mideavel themed dinner show where you eat with your hands & “knights” joust. This could be the GF equivalent.
I would definitely write a letter to the economic development dudes in support.
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bikini, skates, and shark suit….I gotta go shopping.
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Romantix is open late tonight
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I will just tell them to put it on your account Gene. I’m sure you are well known there.
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Yeah, tell them to charge it to “spearman’s account.”
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Yes, I did have an acct. there only it was for Straus Clothing.
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I know you are the serious sort Spearman but that’s funny…at least to me it is. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
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Gee all.. I still wonder why grand forks could not help them out in need? A classic dinner club who can’t get a second chance…
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That’s right…the only businesses allowed in GF are those that ask the city council for money.
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But Gene.. grand forks wants to grow north… I wonder how far grand forks will go to own US 81 North? A question just to wait and see..
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Rick,
Everything is heading south: business, schools, wealth…everything. In 15 years Thompson will be annexed.
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Heading south seems to be a general rule. Even Fargo goes south much more than north as does Sioux Falls, Duluth, St. Cloud, Rochester, Mankato etc. If you think about it though, the building of Colombia Rd. & 42nd has created more growth to the west than the south. The intention of city GF city planners 25 yrs. ago was to accomplish just that. IOW square off the city to save fuel & other infrastructure needs. It has worked to a large extent.
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In fact the building of I-29 40 yrs. ago was instrumental in creating growth to the west as much if not more than to the south.
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That could be. But when a former colleague of mine arrived in 1960, the south boundary was 17th Ave S. He used to hunt rabbits where Red River HS is now.
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But Wash. already went to 32nd while Belmont probably went even further. I’m just saying that because you can’t grow trees much north of Gateway due to the alkali soil growth will go south & west. Greenburg, as you know, bought all that land a long time ago for that very reason.
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