Bank could take Evergreen saloon after owners’ squabble resurfaces

Evergreen’s Little Bear Saloon again stands on a financial precipice as a bank threatens to take all that it owns and its partners renew their dustup at the Wild West venue.

Just before the holidays, all was calm at 28075 Highway 74, a 19th-century building that has been home to Little Bear since the 1970s. Attorneys for its three owners – JR Iannaccone, Patrick Robson and Alexandra Robson – said “an amicable settlement” was reached.

“They look forward to the Little Bear continuing its long tradition of providing great live music and entertainment for its customers,” a lawyer for the Robsons said at the time.

But nothing has gone as planned. Under the settlement, the Robsons were to buy Iannaccone’s stake in the saloon for $70,000. Nearly two months later, they have not done that.

“The (Robsons) have remained comfortable with the existing status quo of Mr. Iannaccone shouldering Little Bear’s debts to the point of his own destruction,” his lawyers say.

Reignition of the Robsons’ dispute with Iannaccone, who also owns Bistro Del Lago and JR’s Landscaping and Property Maintenance in Evergreen, occurred after Christmas.

On Dec. 26, Patrick Robson asked Iannaccone for a meeting to “discuss the FirstBank loan and close out” their dispute, according to Iannaccone. At a short confab, less than 15 minutes, the next day, Robson said he didn’t have the money to pay both Iannaccone and FirstBank, which had lent Robson and Iannaccone $250,000 when they bought Little Bear in 2023.

In Iannaccone’s recollection, Robson offered to pay $30,000 Dec. 29 and then memorialize the remainder in a note. Neither happened. Robson recalls the meeting differently: Iannaccone agreed to forgo payment of all $70,000 indefinitely, so FirstBank could be repaid.

Then came “the devastating developments on Jan. 27,” as Iannaccone’s lawyers put it.

First, the bank accelerated its loan and seized $42,578 from Iannaccone’s bank accounts, leaving only $1.76 and him “unable to maintain his own businesses,” his lawyers said. Then, the bank sued Little Bear, Patrick Robson and Iannaccone that same day for defaulting on the $250,000 loan. Collateral is Little Bear’s inventory and fixtures, though not its real estate.