[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 111 (Thursday, September 8, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1813]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    A TRIBUTE TO THE MIJARES FAMILY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 8, 2005

  Mr. SCHIFF. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the Mijares Family, of 
Pasadena, who are celebrating the 85th Anniversary of Mijares Mexican 
Restaurant, their family business.
  Jesucita Mijares immigrated to California in the early 1900s with her 
second husband, Juan, and infant son, Joe. The family settled in 
Pasadena where Jesucita gave birth to two more children and cared for 
her growing family. The young Jesucita began her legendary tortilla-
making business in 1920 to provide for her family after the devastating 
loss of her second husband.
  Mijares Mexican Restaurant began as a family and community operated 
business that supplied hand-made tortillas to local grocery stores and 
restaurants. Mrs. Mijares took in boarders to supplement her income, 
and soon, tables were spread throughout her home to accommodate the 
growing number of residents and guests. Slowly, her tortilla business 
expanded and she provided meals for guests, with traditional Mexican 
dishes such as tamales and menudo served daily.
  In 1940, as the business continued to flourish, Jesucita moved the 
production out of her home to a location on Palmetto Drive in Pasadena 
to be used as a delicatessen and small tortilla business. What 
happened, however, was that tables were added, rooms were built and 
patios were poured to accommodate hundreds of guests daily at the 
restaurant.
  During the late 1970s the Mijares family suffered a devastating loss 
when the family restaurant was destroyed by fire. Determined to 
continue what her mother had started, her daughter, Alice Mijares 
Recendez worked hard to rebuild the restaurant, which was completed in 
1984. During the time of rebuilding, to help her employees, many of 
whom were out of work, Alice opened a second restaurant on Washington 
Blvd. in Pasadena which exists to this day.
  In 1988, Jesucita Mijares died and Alice became the family matriarch. 
Today, Alice and her daughter R-Iene Mijares de Lang are the owners of 
Mijares. Alice oversees the gardens and patios at Mijares, cultivating 
the same love of plants and flowers as her mother Jesucita. R-Iene 
taught in San Diego for 12 years before returning to run her family 
business. Also contributing to the family business are R-Iene's 
brother, Tom Recendez, who manages the restaurant on Washington Blvd., 
and her sister, Tina Jimenez, who supports the administration of the 
catering and restaurant business. The Mijares family warmly welcomes 
its guests and works hard at providing friendly, quality service.
  The Mijares family has made Mijares Mexican Restaurant both an 
enjoyable dining establishment and a business that gives back to the 
community. The family actively contributes to a number of charities 
which include Women at Work, Child Care Information Services, P.E.O. 
Chapters, the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Association, Villa 
Esperanza, NOW, Pasadena Polytechnic School, EI Centro de Accion 
Social, the Los Angeles Children's Chorus, Hospice of Pasadena, and the 
Girt Scouts of America.
  I am proud to recognize the Mijares Family on the 85th anniversary of 
Mijares Mexican Restaurant and I ask all Members of Congress to join me 
in honoring this family for their 85 years of service to our community.