E.T. and Anna Borgen came to America in 1900 and opened Borgen’s Restaurant in Westby in 1905. E.T. retired in the early 1940s and sold the restaurant to Orvis Lee who continued the restaurant until 1953. This restaurant was located at the southeast corner of First & Main Streets. Curently this is the lawn area in front of the Connelly Law Office.
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| Borgen's Restaurant E.T. and Anna Borgen owners 1905-1953 |
Meanwhile, one half block north, Asta Elverum Krueger owned the Westby Cafe. In 1952, E.T. and Anna’s son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Cathryn Borgen, bought this restaurant from Krueger after renting it from her since 1950. Ralph, who was born in 1903, died in 1956. His wife, Cathryn, a high school English teacher, was left with three children and the restaurant.
Cathryn continued with the restaurant until June 1973, when she sold the business at 109 South Main Street to LeRoy and Donna Perkins. Cathryn Borgen died in 1985. Borgen’s Cafe and Bakery is a well-known restaurant with a Norwegian atmosphere that serves American and Norwegian foods. The legendary Norse gnomes and the inscription on the wall of the Cafe and bakery: “Spik, drik an ver gla! Maten er god! Men helsen er bedre! (Eat, drink and be glad! Food is good! Health is better!”) greet Norwegians and non-Norwegians alike! The coffee pot is always on at Borgen’s Cafe and Bakery. And the guests seem to need a homemade cookie, sandbukkel or a piece of pie with their coffee.
In June of 2005, 100 years after the first Borgen’s Restaurant in Westby opened, Borgen’s closed.
In the spring of 2006, hungry local folks and travelers from near and far were disappointed to see the CLOSED sign on the door.
Local folks talked about how they missed Borgen’s restaurant. Listed for sale by owners Donna and LeRoy Perkins, it continued to sit empty. Soon people talked about how to ‘save’ Borgen’s. In backyards, parking lots, and community meetings, many ideas were discussed.
Finally, a group of people including Russ Hanson, Gary Daines, David Mills and others began to formulate ideas. Finally, on the evening of March 18, 2008, Russ Hanson called a meeting at Borgen’s Restaurant. Attended by nearly 40 interested community members, a corporation called Westby Investor’s Inc. was formed. Many committed to buying shares for the purchase and restoration of Borgen’s, in anticipation of finding someone to buy and operate it after restoration.
The initial investors included Russ & Suzanne Hanson, Pat & Ed Klos, Beverly Morgan, David & Vanessa Mills, Elaine Lund, Marc & Sharon Nelson, Dr. P. T. & Marilyn Bland, David & Elizabeth Veum, Ron & Sue Bjerke, Birger & Phyllis Eklov, Nathan Papendorf, RuthAnn N. Wilson, Marlowe & Barbara Nelson, Harvey & Diana Volden, Dave & Jana Dregne, John & Carmen Armbruster, Cindy & Howard Langhus, Troy Langhus, Dave & Kelly Elgstuen, and Bill & Ann Kurth.
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| Borgen's Café Ralph and Cathryn Borgen owners 1950-1973 |
The first annual shareholder’s meeting was held on March 31, 2008. During the following months, each committee worked hard – there was so much to be done.
The three main goals were: (1) to find investors to cover the purchase and restoration costs, (2) to completely renovate and restore the restaurant, and (3) to find someone to purchase and/or operate the restaurant upon completion of restoration.
Money was raised through selling investor shares and borrowing funds. The purchase agreement with LeRoy and Donna Perkins was signed on April 18, 2008. Optimism was high and hopeful to open by Syttende Mai. Even though coffee and treats were served at Syttende Mai, everything took much more time.
In the meantime, walls were torn out, booths reupholstered, new insulation and wiring installed, new walls painted or paneled, new flooring laid in the café section and the original floor in the dining room restored. The furnace and air conditioning were all replaced, the roof leaks were repaired, the apartments upstairs needed work, and the basement was also refinished. The back rooms for storage and cooking were all redone, and new appliances installed. The original rosemaling was saved, and Karen Hankee enhanced the new walls with rosemaling. The Nisse eating porridge, painted on the back wall nearly 70 years ago by Nana Schee, were refurbished by Verda Lund to maintain the historical touch.
As work progressed, numerous people interested in buying or managing Borgen’s were interviewed, and finally the “Right One” was found. October 2, the board met with Blane Charles to finalize his offer to purchase Borgen’s from Westby Investors, Inc.
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| Blane and Mary Charles Current Borgen's owners |
Borgen’s Cafe opened again in the fall of 2008 under the new ownership and management of Blane and Mary Charles of Westby. They have three sons, Jacob, Ben, and Luke. Blane has been in foodservice all of his life, and Mary, who is a registered nurse, also has previous foodservice experience. The restaurant will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Friday evenings for dinner, the cafe side for breakfast and lunch, and the newly refurbished dining room for dinner, Sunday Brunch, and for banquets and meetings, with seating for approximately 75 people. The menu consists of many traditional favorites, along with some new creations. The emphasis will be on home made "comfort foods" with a family friendly atmosphere. Each pot of coffee will be freshly ground, and cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, and dinner rolls will be freshly baked. All soups, salads, and sauces will also be homemade.
More of the story
More of the story
E.T. and Anna Borgen came to America in 1900 and opened Borgen’s Restaurant in Westby in 1905. E.T. retired in the early 1940s and sold the restaurant to Orvis Lee who continued the restaurant until 1953. This restaurant was located at the southeast corner of First & Main Streets.
Meanwhile, one half block north, Asta Elverum Krueger owned the Westby Cafe. In 1952, E.T. and Anna’s son and daughter-in-law, Ralph and Cathryn Borgen, bought this restaurant from Krueger after renting it from her since 1950. Ralph, who was born in 1903, died in 1956. His wife, Cathryn, a high school English teacher, was left with three children and the restaurant.
Cathryn continued with the restaurant until June 1973, when she sold the business at 109 South Main Street to LeRoy and Donna Perkins. Cathryn Borgen died in 1985. Borgen’s Cafe and Bakery is a well-known restaurant with a Norwegian atmosphere that serves American and Norwegian foods. The legendary Norse gnomes and the inscription on the wall of the Cafe and bakery: “Spik, drik an ver gla! Maten er god! Men helsen er bedre! (Eat, drink and be glad! Food is good! Health is better!”) greet Norwegians and non-Norwegians alike! The coffee pot is always on at Borgen’s Cafe and Bakery! And the guests seem to need a homemade cookie, sandbukkel or a piece of pie with their coffee.
In June of 2005, 100 years after the first Borgen’s Restaurant in Westby opened, Borgen’s closed.
In the spring of 2006, hungry local folks and travelers from near and far were disappointed to see the CLOSED sign on the door.
Local folks talked about how they missed Borgen’s restaurant. Listed for sale by owners Donna and LeRoy Perkins, it continued to sit empty. Soon people talked about how to ‘save’ Borgen’s. In backyards, parking lots, and community meetings, many ideas were discussed.
Finally, a group of people including Russ Hanson, Gary Daines, David Mills and others began to formulate ideas. Finally, on the evening of March 18, 2008, Russ Hanson called a meeting at Borgen’s Restaurant. Attended by nearly 40 interested community members, a corporation called Westby Investor’s Inc. was formed. Many committed to buying shares for the purchase and restoration of Borgen’s, in anticipation of finding someone to buy and operate it after restoration.
The initial investors included Russ & Suzanne Hanson, Pat & Ed Klos, Beverly Morgan, David & Vanessa Mills, Elaine Lund, Marc & Sharon Nelson, Dr. P. T. & Marilyn Bland, David & Elizabeth Veum, Ron & Sue Bjerke, Birger & Phyllis Eklov, Nathan Papendorf, RuthAnn N. Wilson, Marlowe & Barbara Nelson, Harvey & Diana Volden, Dave & Jana Dregne, John & Carmen Armbruster, Cindy & Howard Langhus, Troy Langhus, Dave & Kelly Elgstuen, and Bill & Ann Kurth.
A nine-member board was elected. The original board members were David Mills, Chair; Marlowe Nelson, Vice Chair; RuthAnn N. Wilson, Secretary; Diana Volden, Treasurer; Tip Bagstad, David Dregne, Tim Eddy, Phyllis Eklov and Ed Klos. Bylaws were approved and adopted with the following committees formed:
Remodeling: Ed Klos, Ch.
Negotiating: Tim Eddy, Ch.; Dave Dregne, David Mills, Bev Morgan, Marc and Sharon Nelson, Sue Noble, Ron Iverson
Façade & Interior Décor (Sub to Remodeling): Diana Volden, Ch.; Verda Lund, Pat Stafslien, Evelyn Larson
Finance: Marlowe Nelson, Ch.; Phyllis Eklov
The first annual shareholder’s meeting was held on March 31, 2008. During the following months, each committee worked hard – there was so much to be done! The three main goals were: (1) to find investors to cover the purchase and restoration costs, (2) to completely renovate and restore the restaurant, and (3) to find someone to purchase and/or operate the restaurant upon completion of restoration.
Money was raised through selling investor shares and borrowing funds. The purchase agreement with LeRoy and Donna Perkins was signed on April 18, 2008. Optimism was high and hopeful to open by Syttende Mai! Even though coffee and treats were served at Syttende Mai, everything took much more time.
In the meantime, walls were torn out, booths reupholstered, new insulation and wiring installed, new walls painted or paneled, new flooring laid in the café section and the original floor in the dining room restored. The furnace and air conditioning were all replaced, the roof leaks were repaired, the apartments upstairs needed work, and the basement was also refinished. The back rooms for storage and cooking were all redone, and new appliances installed. The original rosemaling was saved, and Karen Hankee enhanced the new walls with rosemaling. The Nisse eating porridge, painted on the back wall nearly 70 years ago by Nana Schee, were refurbished by Verda Lund to maintain the historical touch.
As work progressed, numerous people interested in purchasing or managing Borgen’s were interviewed, and finally the “Right One” was found. October 2, the board met with Blane Charles to finalize his offer to purchase Borgen’s from Westby Investors, Inc.
Borgens Cafe will opened again in the fall of 2008 under the new ownership and management of Blane and Mary Charles of Westby. They have three sons, Jacob, Ben, and Luke. Blane has been in foodservice all of his life, and Mary, who is a registered nurse, also has previous foodservice experience. The restaurant will be open daily from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings for dinner. They plan to use the cafe side for breakfast and lunch, and the newly refurbished dining room for dinner, Sunday Brunch, and for banquets and meetings, with seating for approximately 75 people. The menu will consist of many traditional favorites, along with some new creations. The emphasis will be on home made "comfort foods " with a family friendly atmosphere. Each pot of coffee will be freshly ground, and cookies, pies, cinnamon rolls, and dinner rolls will be freshly baked. All soups, salads, and sauces will also be homemade.
Are there any photos of the old Borgen's?
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