[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 106 (Friday, July 31, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1510-E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            TO DESIGNATE JULY 6TH AS ``PALOMAR MARKET DAY''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. BRIAN P. BILBRAY

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 31, 1998

  Mr. BILBRAY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Mr. and Mrs. James 
Mellos, a couple in my district whose retirement symbolizes the end of 
an era.
  Since May of 1927, the Mellos family has owned and operated the 
Palomar Market Liquor & Grocery store located at 1802 W. Washington 
Street in San Diego, California, Mr. James D. Mellos, his brother Mr. 
Louis Mellos, and his cousin Mr. George Antonopoulos, started this 
business which the family has successfully owned and operated for 71 
years--through the Great Depression, World War II, the Korean and 
Vietnam Wars, and the Cold War. According to the Alcoholic Beverage 
Control, the Palomar Market has the unique recognition of holding the 
oldest off-sale liquor license in the State of California. Mr. James 
Mellos, Jr. worked at Palomar Market since he was nine years old, 
continuing a family tradition of serving the Mission Hills Community 
which lasted over four decades.

[[Page E1511]]

  In addition to their success at business, James and Hellen Mellos 
raised three wonderful children. Their oldest son, James D. Mellos, 
III, has become a successful attorney and has opened up his own law 
office in Mission Hills. Their middle child, Peter L. Mellos, is 
completing his masters in Forensic Science and is anticipating 
attending law school with the goal of working in the San Diego District 
Attorney's office. Their youngest child, Stella K. Mellos, is currently 
a hard-working successful paralegal for the downtown San Diego Law Firm 
of Jeffrey E. Estes & Associates. Like her brothers, she plans to 
attend law school and become a practicing attorney in San Diego.
  Since their children all found success in the field of law, Mr. and 
Mrs. Mellos decided to sell their store upon retirement and start new 
traditions. After much searching, Mr. and Mrs. Mellos found another 
family to take over the business who will continue the Mellos 
traditions of hard work and excellent service. On Monday, July 6, 1998, 
the Palomar Market opened under new ownership, bringing the era of the 
Mellos family business to a bittersweet end.
  Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I hereby declare that hereafter, July 6th 
will be know to San Diegans as ``Palomar Market Day'' to commemorate 
this great piece of San Diego's history.

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