Whitey's Cafe new owner says it's a done deal

• The Whitey's Café building in East Grand Forks

The Whitey's Café building in East Grand Forks

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• EARLIER: Public auction of Whitey's Cafe set for May 15

The Roseau, Minn., restaurant owner buying Whitey’s Cafe in East Grand Forks says it’s "a done deal" that will require just a few more days of paperwork.

Tim Bjerk, who owns and runs Gene’s Bar and Grill in Roseau, was the sole bidder at the invitation-only auction May 15 in Whitey’s. Several other potential bidders attended, but didn’t want to match the minimum bid of $650,000. That’s what Bjerk bid, and it was the only bid, said Dennis Blackmun, a partner in Joe Black’s in downtown Grand Forks, who attended the auction.

The terms of the deal were earnest money down with closing set for June 15, by the partnership that included longtime manager Greg Stennes.

After a deal with David Norman lasted less than a year, Stennes and his partners took back Whitey’s this spring and immediately sought new owners.

Bjerk said Friday that he filed for an extension with Stennes' group to close June 30.

"We finally got all our financial ducks in a row," Bjerk said. "It’s a done deal, we just need to sign papers."

He’s been hearing a lot of interest from longtime customers of the legendary Whitey’s who are looking forward to seeing the doors open again, Bjerk said.

"We are excited to be part of the East Grand Forks community and the greater Grand Forks area, and we look forward to restarting Whitey's, and it’s great name for good service and good food," Bjerk said.

The Whitey's property on DeMers Avenue includes seven apartments and has an assessed value for tax purposes of $417,400, said Beverly Johnson, administrative assistant in the Polk County Assessor's office in Crookston.

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