[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 17 (Wednesday, February 7, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E133]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TO BILL AND MARY KOCH, CUSTOMERS WERE FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. PAUL E. KANJORSKI

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 7, 2001

  Mr. KANJORSKI. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Bill and 
Mary Koch of Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania, who recently closed 
their beloved Koch's Deli in Wilkes-Barre after 20 years of excellent 
service.
  For more than 10 years, my district office was located next door to 
Koch's Deli, and almost every day that I was working from Wilkes-Barre, 
I stopped into the deli for a cup of coffee or a cheeseburger. Like 
everyone else who frequented the deli, I could always count on 
welcoming smiles and excellent service.
  To the Koches, people in their deli were not just customers--they 
were friends and family. Their business is housed in the Ten East South 
building, which is home to dozens of senior citizens, and near 
Washington Square, another residence for the elderly. Bill and Mary 
delivered meals to many of them and even ran errands for them, such as 
banking, picking up their mail and getting their prescriptions filled. 
And even regular customers who did not need these favors often found 
their orders waiting for them on the table when they came in. 
Basically, Koch's Deli became for many residents of Wilkes-Barre a home 
away from home.
  Before starting the deli, Bill already had a long career in the 
restaurant business, having risen to district manager for a chain, but 
found that it took too many hours away from his family. So Bill and 
Mary went into business for themselves, and eventually involved their 
three daughters. Becky, Christine and Lisa, who are all grown now, 
learned valuable skills at the deli, like handling money and 
interacting with people.
  Mr. Speaker, I am proud to call Bill and Mary personal friends, as 
well as constituents. I am pleased to call the Koch family's long 
service and many kindnesses to the attention of the House of 
Representatives, and I wish them all the best in their retirement.

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