Sisters Have Dandy Time On Quest For Perfect Burger

There are two Valley women who love burgers. Not eating them so much as making them.

Now, twin sisters Lori Ann Finnegan and Lisa Ann Orvis have their parents to thank for helping make their beefy craving into a career.

Jim and Betty Orvis bought Dandy’s Drive-In on East Sprague in December and together, after “a ton of cleaning,” the family opened for business Jan. 6.

The Valley restaurant had been open since 1972 under owner Gust Moeller. He sold the business in 1994 to Dave Ford, who closed the eatery in September after hitting financial hard times. Ford filed for bankruptcy late last year.

Jim and Betty said they know buying the restaurant has made a dream come true for their daughters.

“They both always said one day they’d have their own restaurant,” said Betty.

With their father keeping a watchful eye, Lori Ann helps customers “because she’s more upfront” and Lisa Ann works the grill “because she loves to cook,” says Jim Orvis.

Most of their lives, the sisters, now 32 years old, worked together. First, at the Valley’s Burger Basket, then at Taco Time, Sizzlin’ Quick and at Comfort Inn as housekeepers.

“I’d get hired and a couple days later, the people who hired me would find out about my twin sister and they’d say ‘Oooh, bring her in, bring her in,”’ said Finnegan. “And as close as we are, two is better than one.”

For all the time they’d spent flipping burgers and watching others make them, the sisters say they’ve got the best burger around.

“We know what people want in one,” said Finnegan. They’ve got two different burger menus: one for people who prefer mayo, lettuce and tomato and another for those who like pickles, ketchup and mustard.

Much still remains from the old Dandy’s - the booths, the tables, the breakfast items and those famous banana splits.

It was important, Jim Orvis said, to preserve some of the traditions for which the restaurant has been known.

Orvis, who spends most every day at the eatery, says he really enjoys talking to customers about what Dandy’s used to be like and what they think of it now.

“He pulls up a chair and just starts yapping,” said Lori Ann.

“Well, it’s just that I’ve always lived in the Valley so I know lots of people,” he chimed in.

While dad works the room, the daughters make sure each customer gets a “little special something” - a candy or mint - with an order.

“I just want us to do well,” said Lisa Ann.

“I just want us to give the Valley something,” said Lori Ann.

“And you want to be successful but happy at the same time, right?” asked their father.

“Yes,” they said in unison. “You’re right, Dad.”

The women like having their dad around, though some days, they ask the retiree to stay home.

“But, hey, I’m Mr. Clean,” said Jim Orvis of his duties in the restaurant. “What would you do without me?”

Without him, there’d be no hat collection. Lining the main support beam in the dining room are mesh hats, knit hats, wool hats from different businesses, teams and organizations. Customers have started to donate hats for the wall.

But it’s the burgers, they say, that keep customers coming back.

“Especially the one called the ‘Holy Moley,”’ said Lori Ann. “That is just huge, three patties and lots of toppings. No one has been able to finish it yet.”

Whenever there’s an order for one of those, the sisters, hungry to show the art of building the perfect burger, are utterly beaming.

“Yes, this is definitely a dream come true for them,” said the proud papa. “I don’t think they ever thought it’d happen.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo