Whitey's Sold To Dave Norman

For only the second time in 85 years, Whitey's Wonder Bar Cafe in East Grand Forks will change hands.

The group that bought the bar from Edwin Larson or "Whitey" in 1973 sold the bar today to a group of investors led by Dave Norman.

Former owner and manager Greg Stennes confirmed the sale to WDAZ on Wednesday.

He said the group led by businessman Dave Norman bought Whitey's. And that it will be called "Whitey's Prime Steak and Seafood." Stennes said the menu will retain the items that Whitey's is known for, but will also incorporate more steak and seafood choices.

Stennes will remain the owner of the building, and says the Norman group will have an option to buy the building at a later date. He would not reveal the sale price of the business.

According to a Fargo Forum article on Norman from 2008, Norman is the former owner of the Fireside restaurant in Detroit Lakes, Minn. and was also involved in Normans Prime Steaks & Seafood in Fargo.

We contacted Norman today but he declined comment. He is currently living in East Grand Forks.

The business has sat in downtown East Grand Forks for 85 years. It was the building destroyed in the 1997 flood. It was rebuilt just three doors up the block. The famed horseshoe shaped "Wonderbar" was saved along with most of the artifacts.

Tags: dave norman, whiteys, wonderbar, breakingnews