[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


              CHARITABLE LANDMARK: ON VERGE OF EXTINCTION

                                 ______
                                 

                           HON. CLIFF STEARNS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 5, 2001

  Mr. STEARNS. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in recognition of a Washington 
institution. In this city of lawmakers and policy, Sholl's Cafeteria 
has adopted a policy of its own: for over 70 years, the downtown 
landmark has never turned away a hungry soul. This cafeteria, this 
``triumph of charity,'' has fed thousands with warm, free meals. In 
recent months, however, Sholl's has faced dire straits with the recent 
economic downturn. Declining tourism and rising rent have forced 
Sholl's Cafeteria to consider closing its doors to the thousands of 
devoted patrons who have frequented the famed eatery. With all that 
Scholl's Cafeteria has done for our community, it is time for us to 
give back and maintain what has become a 70-year tradition. With that 
said, Mr. Speaker, I submit to the Congressional Record a letter 
written by Sholl's Chairman Jim McGrath to the Washington Post on 
October 14, 2001.

               [From the Washington Post, Oct. 14, 2001]

                       On the Edge of Extinction

       As the nation mobilizes to combat the insidious foe of 
     terrorism, another drama of a far different kind and scope is 
     playing itself out in downtown Washington--the struggle for 
     survival of Sholl's Cafeteria. Despite heroic sacrifice and 
     Herculean labors by many--most notably its beloved 
     proprietors, George and Van Fleishell--absent a substantial 
     financial remedy, Sholls will be forced to close its doors as 
     soon as Oct. 31.
       The Sholl's story could easily get lost amid the tumult of 
     our national preoccupation and suffering in the wake of Sept. 
     11, but that would be a profound shame, because the 
     cafeteria's story has been one of special triumphs: of old-
     fashioned, all-American food, wonderfully prepared and 
     wonderfully served; of humane pricing, so that nearly anyone 
     can afford to eat there, of multiculturalism, with terrific 
     employees, many there for generations, reflecting every 
     spectrum of the human family; of kindness, with an atmosphere 
     that welcomes everyone. It is a story of the triumph of 
     charity--Sholl's has given away enough free food to feed an 
     army 100 times over.
       During the past several years, however, Sholl's has 
     suffered from the decline in downtown dining. Its tour-bus 
     trade has eroded because of the weak economy. It has endured 
     bus-unfriendly parking restrictions. It has had to deal with 
     prolonged building renovation and reconstruction while paying 
     a huge rent. It has been put through the economic wringer.
       Now another mobilization is needed to save this beloved 
     institution. I am not alone in expressing those sentiments. 
     They have been voiced by many, from the high and the mighty 
     to the mighty humble. They have come from legions of senior 
     citizens, bus loads of squealing kids and homeless people.
       On Aug. 10, 1999, for example, the World Bank wrote to the 
     cafeteria's owner: ``You are correct characterize Sholl's as 
     a charitable landmark. It would be a significant loss to our 
     neighborhood if you were to close your doors, particularly 
     for the large number of senior citizens, young kids, disabled 
     and homeless people whom you serve.''
       On July 8, 1998, U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia read into 
     the Congressional Record, ``Patrons of Sholl's have described 
     members of the Sholl family, who have owned and operated 
     Sholl's over the last 70 years, as having the biggest hearts 
     in Washington.''
       On March 7, 1999, Mike Kirwan, the late, great apostle to 
     the homeless, said, ``The stories I've heard from people on 
     the streets, their quiet moments of dignity, respect, warmth 
     and a full and nourishing meal at the hands of this wonderful 
     cafeteria could fill a book of essays.''
       Possibly, the one who said it best, though, was a child 
     who, on arrival from Pennsylvania on a school bus, told a 
     WTOP reporter. ``If it weren't for Sholl's Cafeteria, we 
     couldn't afford to come to Washington.''
       The hour is late, and the odds are long. Although some say 
     the time for Sholl's has passed, I profoundly disagree, and I 
     hope others do too. Long live Sholl's Cafeteria.

                                                  Jim McGrath,

       Chairman of the Save Our
                                      Sholl's Cafeteria Committee.

     

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