The fish bar prospered to a degree and Ivar enjoyed a small percentage of the profits, but did not consider the fish bar anything more than a novelty. Eventually it closed. Ivar discussed the restaurant idea with friends. Some encouraged him to go ahead, but most were against it. It was no secret then, as it is today, that new restaurants have a notoriously high failure rate.
Losses can be tremendous.
The person who most influenced him to start the business was his father in-law, Harry M. Butler. Harry was a short, thin, gray-haired gent in his early seventies. He had over twenty years experience operating hotel dining rooms, restaurants, and resorts for the Westin Hotel chains. When Ivar applied for a loan, the bank asked if he had any experience in the restaurant business. His response was typically Ivar.