Norcross Cafe --
where friends meet and eat
(Webmaster's note: The Norcross Cafe is open. Jerry Bob and Harriet Amundson are running it, however, Bonnie Schmidt is no longer managing or renting the business. They are looking for new renters.) by Olivia Richards,
Herman Review
Only at the Norcross Cafe can you order "The Jimmy","The Kaiser", "Deedee¹s Delight," or "The Wiggy Burger" The Wiggy Burger, a quarter-pounder with lots of fried onions, is in memory of the late Kenneth "Wiggy" Olhoft, who was the long-time mayor of Norcross. Bonnie Schmidt said he came in at least five times a day, and when he was out grading roads, his lunch was packed to go.
Bonnie started her restaurant business on October 7, 1998. That's four years ago. A lot of burgers have sizzled on the grill since then.
She provides Monday through Friday noon specials with a well-rounded entree, including vegetable and dessert. The grill is open from 11 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. Breakfast is served from 7 a.m. until 9:30 a.m. She is closed on Saturdays. The restaurant is open on Sunday mornings for a community coffee hour.
The Sunday buffet has been discontinued until May 1 when she plans to restart the dinner. Instead she is open Thursday evenings, serving a choice of six different entrees with a choice of soup or salad, cheddar baked potato, steak fries or angel hair alfredo. The vegetable is the cook's choice and a homemade dinner roll is included. "sweet endin"g² to the meal could include caramel chocolate pecan cheesecake or carrot coconut pineapple cake. Having the restaurant closed on Saturdays gives Bonnie a chance to take catering bookings. She has had the opportunity to cater events at the restaurant or at locations in a 100 mile radius of Norcross. Parties have numbered from two to 400 people. She has catered numerous wedding receptions.
An annual charity bike-a-thon travels through Alexandria each summer. Bonnie has had the opportunity to cater a meal for the bikers at The United Methodist Church in Alexandria for the past two years. The bikers meet at a central location where menus and food locations are posted. About 200 bikers came to the church to eat a Mexican dinner Bonnie prepared. The bikers request a high carbohydrate meal, but yet low in protein. "They eat like they bike ‹ really fast," she commented.
The cafe is tastefully decorated by Bonnie according to the seasons. An interesting collection of Norcross historical memorabilia is displayed on two walls of the cafe.
A Norcross native herself, she knows her customers well. "I've come to know what each customer wants. They don't even have to tell me," she says. "For instance, I have a breakfast customer who prefers toasted store bread over toasted homemade bread. So that's what he gets without saying a word.
"The guys come in and say, 'just a burger,' ‹ that's how just a burger got its name." It's a 1/4 pound hamburger with a choice of mayo, ketchup, pickle, onion, and lettuce for $2.50.
Bonnie's hours are 7 a.m. until 3:45 p.m., Monday through Friday, open Thursday evenings, 5-8 p.m., closed Saturdays, and open at 8 a.m. Sunday morning for a community coffee hour.
If you are need of catering service, give Bonnie a call at 320-284-2202. She'll be happy to help you out.
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