Norma’s Burger Barn Closes In Bankrupcty

Little leaguers, soccer players and others in search of a treasured milkshake or “outrageous” onion rings no longer can find them at Norma’s Burger Barn in Otis Orchards.

After years of financial difficulty, Bennie Sawyer, longtime owner of the Valley institution, was forced to close the restaurant in January, according to documents filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Sawyer, who filed a Chapter 13 bankruptcy petition in May 1996, intended to reorganize and repay the $700,000 in debt he currently owes, according to court documents. In January, Sawyer converted his filing to a Chapter 7 petition which would liquidate his assets and free him from most debts, the documents show.

Sawyer declined an interview.

Richard Totusek, who holds the mortgage on the Norma’s property at Harvard and Wellesley, said he’s eager for the restaurant to open again and hopes to have it open as soon as it’s legally possible.

The Scalici family, who live in Otis Orchards, is hoping that happens.

“It’s the cornerstone of Otis,” said Pete Scalici. “You tell anyone where you live and you tell them to go to Norma’s. You give directions from there.”

Scalici’s son, Tony, played on a Spokane Valley baseball team for four years. Sawyer sponsored his team as well as several others. After Tony’s team won the championship last year, members gave the trophy to Sawyer to display in the restaurant.

“He was real generous that way,” said Scalici. “We’d go there for free ice cream cones after every game. All the teams got free ice cream, not just the ones he sponsored.”

One resident said she’ll miss the chicken strips and onion rings she used to pick up on her way home from work.

“When I saw it’d closed I said, ‘Oh dear, what happened,”’ said Kate Bacon, 67. “When my daughter came to visit, I’d always take her there for lunch. You could get a good ice cream cone there.”

Tony Roma’s will be opening a restaurant at the Spokane Valley Mall. Wayne Bergey, a manager and partner at the Tony Roma’s restaurant on Spokane’s North Side, said he expects construction of the 6,125 sq. ft. building to begin within two weeks.

The free-standing eatery will be at 14742 E. Indiana on the east side of the mall. Vandervert Construction Inc. of Spokane will build the restaurant.

The restaurant, which specializes in ribs, chicken, seafood and steaks, will employ 120 people in both full- and part-time positions.

Formal Image, a formal wear store based in Western Washington, opened its first Valley store last month. The shop is located in the former site of St. Vincent de Paul Society store at 14208 E. Sprague.

Six full-time employees sell men’s formal wear as well as prom and bridesmaid dresses at wholesale prices. The store also rents tuxedos.

The shop is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays.

, DataTimes