Sandy’s restaurant closing ‘like a funeral’ to some
Customers come in during the lunch rush at Sandy's in Ogden on Wednesday, December 03, 2014. After 38 years of business Sandy's will be closing on December 6.
Kathryn Dimick and Mary Von Colln, both seated, joke about how they are going to have to scratch Sandy's off of their "lunch bunch list" during the lunch rush at Sandy's in Ogden on Wednesday, December 03, 2014. After 38 years of business Sandy's will be closing on December 6. The lunch bunch is a group of retired Ogden school employees, mostly administrative assistants, who meet every Wednesday for lunch.
Mary Ellen and Kenneth Jones talk at a booth during the lunch rush at Sandy's in Ogden on Wednesday, December 03, 2014. After 38 years of business Sandy's will be closing on December 6. "We've been coming here for 28 years," Mary Ellen said. "We've watched the owners' kids grow up."
OGDEN — “It’s the end of the world,” Kaye McCamish said, after hearing that Sandy’s Fine Foods is closing.
While not actually the end of the world, it is the end of the world as McCamish knows it — she’s worked at the restaurant for the entire 38 years it’s been open.
McCamish isn’t the only one rocked by the loss of Sandy’s Fine Foods.
“The customers coming in are just crying,” said Kristen Hill, owner of the restaurant. “They say it’s like a funeral.”
Hill says she, her family and employees, feel honored by the outpouring of emotion.
“We’re like a family that’s mourning for our loved ones,” she said.
Sandy’s, at 3233 Washington Blvd., has been busy this week. Since the announcement was made, customers have been coming in to pay their last respects before the doors close for good on Saturday. If the restaurant had had this many customers on a regular basis, it wouldn’t be closing.
“Business is slowing down. It’s just been hard to keep up with the new chains coming into town, and we just wanted to end on top instead of getting ourselves into financial trouble,” said Tiffany Nash, Hill’s sister, who also works at the restaurant. “It was definitely a huge, and hard, decision to make for our family. We love our employees, we love our customers … and it’s an end to what we know.”
Sandy’s was named for Sandy Evertsen, who started the business with her husband, Lyle Evertsen. The couple retired about 15 years ago, leaving the running of the business to their children.
“I think there’s, obviously, some sadness,” Nash said of her parents’ feelings about the restaurant closing. “It’s also a little bit of a relief because they stress for us, because they know what it’s like to run a business and to be here day in and day out — but it is sad. It’s an end of their hard work.”
Sandy’s Fine Foods will continue its catering services based at another location, and can be contacted at 801-399-0032. Some of the employees will stay on with the catering business, and Nash says the family is trying to help others find new jobs.
Hill said the closure of the restaurant is necessary.
“There are so many new restaurants opening lately,” she said. “Our restaurant is older, and we’re in a place where we need to reinvest in equipment and roof repairs. … With sales dropping, we can’t justify the expense.”
The closure of Sandy’s is a reminder to dine local, Hill said.
“Chain restaurants just have deep budgets, and marketing budgets, that little mom and pop shops don’t have,” she said.
Local businesses are tied to the community and give back, Hill said, listing several charities that benefited from the generosity of Sandy’s over the years. They’ve also been supported by Roosters Brewing Company and Union Grill, local restaurants owned by another of Hill’s siblings, Kym Buttschardt.
“I think our family feels like it’s our responsibility, that we want to take care of our community,” Hill said. “There are so many good restaurants, that are family owned, that do the same things.”
Family is what kept Sandy’s going for so many years.
“Mom was eight months pregnant with me when they started it, and my sister and I were raised in a playpen here for a couple of years,” said Nash.
Hill says she remembers playing in the booths after hours, and using the restaurant’s pie crust to make cookies.
Over the years, the family grew to include employees. Several have been with the restaurant for 30 years or more, and a few of those are people with special needs.
“My dad just has a huge heart for people who needed a hand up, and somebody to love them through life,” said Nash. “That’s why they’ve been here so long.”
McCamish, and her husband Warren, are among those special employees.
“Uncle Lyle and Sandy were like a mother and dad to me,” said the 75-year-old Ogden woman, who washed dishes until her health didn’t allow it, and then was paid to peel potatoes. “They kept me because I did a good job.”
The Evertsens helped McCamish with everything from managing her finances to taking her to the grocery store and doctor. Nash says McCamish will retire now, and the Evertsen children will continue to keep track of her.
Buttschardt said watching her parents interact with people at the restaurant made a big impression.
“They taught us to truly love people,” she said. “What mom and dad inspired me to do is to create a community gathering space.”
And that’s what Sandy’s has been for 38 years.
Illene Pett of Layton, grew up in Ogden.
“I have college friends, and high school friends, who like to get together,” she said. “This is a favorite place to meet.”
Kathy Anderson, of Washington Terrace, used to meet with friends at Sandy’s. She said two of her favorite locally owned restaurants, Ye Lion’s Den and Utah Noodle Parlor, have already closed, and now she’s losing another old favorite.
“It’s sad,” she said.
Kent Weaver, of North Ogden, has been eating at Sandy’s for about 30 years.
“Not often enough, evidently,” he said.
Rowene Weaver said she and Kent also had to close a business because of competition from bigger companies.
“It’s sad small businesses suffer that way,” she said. “They probably work harder than big chains do to keep it going.”
Suzy Fackell, another of the Evertsens’ daughters, said some people advised the family to close the restaurant with no warning.
“They say theft happens, and employees just quit on you, so it could be disastrous,” she said of trying to stay open for a period of time after announcing that a business is closing for good.
“But no matter what disaster could happen, we couldn’t do that to our employees or our customers. We wanted to give them one last chance. … This is tradition for too many people, so they need that last chance to bring the kids or come with grandma and grandpa.”
Dan Tesch, of Ogden, said he dined at Sandy’s frequently with his wife, before she died. He returned to the restaurant this week for a final taste of some favorite dishes.
“The food is like home-cooked, rather than fast food or fancy restaurant food,” he said.
Lacey Allen, of Ogden, called her mother when she heard the restaurant is closing.
“We used to come with her aunt, my great aunt, before we’d go to plays at Weber State,” Allen said.
Her mother, Carol Cain, said Sandy’s was one of the few places still making home-style food.
“When you want something special, you come someplace like this,” she said.
The final meals will be served on Saturday. Hill is inviting customers to share their favorite photos and memories of the restaurant.
Nash said she had a great conversation with a costumer who’s been coming for 30 years.
“She said, ‘Every argument or family problem we’ve had we’ve come to Sandy’s, and we’ve been able to work it out. Sandy’s saved my marriage, and saved my family,’ ” Nash said.
A yard sale will be held Dec. 29, giving customers a chance to buy memorabilia and restaurant equipment.
“We’re going out on top, and we’ve had a great run and we’ve done our best. We really, more than anything, are so overwhelmed by the love the community has shown — it’s just really amazing, and we’re grateful to have been a part of it. It’s really bittersweet,” said Hill.
Contact reporter Becky Wright at 801-625-4274 or bwright@standard.net. Follow her on Twitter at @ReporterBWright.
