Impressions eatery told to vacate Oil Capital Building downtown
BY SCOTT CHERRY World Scene Writer
Friday, May 27, 2011
5/27/11 at 4:47 AM
Tom Butcher wasn't at work when the notice arrived saying he would have to move his downtown restaurant, Impressions, by the end of July.
Butcher wasn't there because he was home recuperating from major surgery.
"I haven't told him about the building yet," said his wife, Susan Butcher. "I'm going to have to go home and tell him today."
Susan Butcher said Impressions recently received a notice that the restaurant would have to vacate the Oil Capital Building, 507 S. Main St., by the end of July because the building is being sold. Its current owner is Kanbar Properties.
She said she did not know how many tenants had been notified. One newer tenant the World contacted said she has not received any notice.
Susan Butcher said her husband had a tumor removed from his lower back, and he is home recuperating.
"He was getting a routine MRI in December, and they found a tumor in his lower back," she said. "You know Tom; he worked those 11-hour days right up until it was time to go to Baltimore for the surgery in mid March.
"It was an 11 1/2-hour surgery, and it was serious. The doctors compared it to separating conjoined twins. But he's doing better. He's on the road to recovery."
Butcher said she is confident they will be "actively seeking" a new downtown location for Impressions.
Tom Butcher opened his first Impressions - a cedar building with a slanted roof reminiscent of a mountain lodge - at 15th Street and Lewis Avenue in 1978. He lasted 21 years there before Albertson's bought him out to build a grocery store and gas station.
He then operated Pizza Dot Tom in the Brady District for two years before resurrecting Impressions in its current location in 2002.
Impressions is known for its fabulous hot and cold sandwiches, salads, baked potatoes and spicy turkey chili.
"I know Tom misses all of his customers, and he's grateful for the loyalty they have shown since he's been out," Susan Butcher said.
"I know he would love for everyone to come out these last two months at this location to show their support."
Original Print Headline: Impressions told to vacate downtown site
Scott Cherry 918-581-8463
scott.cherry@tulsaworld.com
