[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 129 (Thursday, July 31, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7896-S7897]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     TRIBUTE TO WAYSIDE RESTAURANT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, I would like to pay tribute to one of 
central Vermont's finest community gathering spaces, the Wayside 
Restaurant. Over the past 90 years, the Wayside has built its 
reputation around the State of Vermont as a quality establishment where 
neighbors enjoy a country style breakfast, a quick business lunch, or a 
well-rounded family dinner. The Wayside represents the needs of the 
community with affordable and diversely pleasant fare.
  In 1918, when Effie Ballou opened the small soup and sandwich 
restaurant, she never expected it would become what it is today. The 
Wayside serves around 1,000 customers a day, and with 160 seats, is 
always filled with loyal customers. Vermonters from all walks of life 
frequent the Wayside for authentic Vermont cooking. Politicians, 
professionals, farmers, elderly people, and families all gather here to 
eat, mingle and enjoy where they can choose a booth or saddle up to the 
horse shoe diner top.
  The Wayside's menu offers more than 200 items, plus an additional 
list of specials, all new every day. These daily specials are memorized 
by the true blue patrons who line up at the doors before 6:30 a.m. 
Unique delights such as fresh native perch, only served in season, is 
breaded and fried. Traditional Yankee entrees are always accompanied by 
freshly baked pies, breads and donuts.
  One of Vermont's landmark eateries, the Wayside Restaurant sparks 
community admiration through its history of public service. A major 
part of the Wayside's success is its history of family ownership. Karen 
Galfetti and Brian Zecchinelli are second-generation owners and 
operators. The couple's dedication and hands on approach are what sets 
the tone of the establishment, aided by their home's location right 
next to the restaurant. Working together as a family, the Zecchinellis 
strive to create a comfortable atmosphere and affordable service for 
the community; as such they represent the heart of working America. 
Providing excellent benefits for employees, most of whom have been 
there for decades, the philosophy behind the Wayside reflects the kind 
of values that strengthen our country. The Zecchinellis' dedication was 
recognized in 2005, when the U.S. Small Business Administration named 
them best Family-Owned Small Business of the Year.
  Without the Wayside, to invite folks into Vermont, we would be 
missing not only the chance to connect with our next door neighbors, 
but the opportunity to support a long-time establishment that has 
always kept the interests of its customers at the heart of its 
expansion.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that an article from the Times 
Argus detailing their 90 years of success be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

                         [From the Times Argus]

                           Wayside Turning 90

                            (By Susan Allen)

       Montpelier/Berlin (literally).--In 1918, the Armistice was 
     signed, ending World War I.
       A legend--Ella Fitzgerald--was born.
       A first class postage stamp cost 3 cents.
       And, of course, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series.
       That same year, Effie Ballou opened The Wayside Restaurant, 
     straddling the Montpelier/Berlin town line--not the 160-seat 
     local institution that has become something of a landmark in 
     Central Vermont, but a small, take-out joint that more 
     closely resembled a snack bar.
       ``In the early days, there were no seats inside the 
     restaurant,'' said Brian Zecchinelli, who married into the 
     restaurant business in 1994 when he tied the knot with Karen 
     Galfetti--whose family bought The Wayside in 1966 from the 
     Fishes (who bought it from Effie Ballou in 1945).
       ``Mrs. Ballou would make some soup at the house, donuts, 
     bring them down and reheat them,'' Zecchinelli said.
       Today's Wayside serves around 1,000 customers a day--more 
     in the summer, fewer in the winter. Most are locals and many 
     are regulars who eat there so often they know the day of the 
     week by the restaurant's regular daily special.
       But The Wayside has become more than a place local 
     Vermonters go for a good, affordable meal (Zecchinelli 
     recently mailed a letter to lawmakers reminding them they can 
     eat three meals a day there for about $20).
       Many statewide and local politicians make sure there's at 
     least one Wayside stop on the campaign tour. Zecchinelli said 
     that's because so many Vermonters from all walks of life can 
     be found there--plenty of votes to woo.
       ``It's just such a cross section of the community eating 
     here,'' Zecchinelli said. ``Plumbers, lawyers, teachers, bank 
     presidents . . . the whole mix of customers. You've got rusty 
     old trucks and shining Mercedes in the parking lot.''
       The Wayside was also a hot spot for state workers until 
     some years ago. That was due, in part, to the employee meal 
     reimbursement plan that allowed workers to expense meals 
     eaten outside Montpelier. So, Zecchinelli said, some would 
     eat at tables on the Berlin side of the restaurant so they 
     could expense their meal--until an auditor discovered that 
     while the town line passed through the property, the entire 
     restaurant was inside the Montpelier city limits. No more 
     expensing.
       Asked what makes the restaurant so special, ``You always 
     say you have good employees and good customers,'' Zecchinelli 
     said.
       But, he said, the reality is something different. It's the 
     house. Ballou lived in a house on the hill just behind The 
     Wayside. When she sold the restaurant to Joseph and Amy Fish 
     (their son George and his wife Vivian took it over in 1954), 
     the house went with the deal.
       And when the Galfettis bought the restaurant in 1966, they, 
     in turn, got the house, as did Karen and Brian when they took 
     over.
       ``Since Day One, the house was always with the 
     restaurant,'' said Brian Zecchinelli. ``So the owners have 
     always been very hands-on. . . . The fact that the owner has 
     always been able to skip down to The Wayside to give folks a 
     hand, be there during hours when you're busiest.
       ``If other businesses want to put a house on the property, 
     go for it,'' he advised.

[[Page S7897]]

       Brian, who previously worked at Milne Travel and Rock of 
     Ages, never expected to go into the restaurant business. 
     Although Karen had also worked elsewhere--E.F. Hutton and Co. 
     and Smith Barney in Burlington--she knew The Wayside was 
     probably in her future.
       ``It was something I tried and I liked. We've enjoyed it,'' 
     Brian Zecchinelli said. ``We're been so active in this 
     business that we can tag team each other.''
       The Galfettis and Zecchinellis have put seven additions on 
     the restaurant over the years, and although customers have 
     urged him to expand, Brian said the current size of 120 
     tables feels like the number to stay with, ``a comfortable 
     size.''
       He said the best thing about owning The Wayside has been 
     the customers, who truly respond to good food. ``You're only 
     as good as your last meal,'' he quipped.
       The toughest thing, he noted, has been meeting the bottom 
     line.
       ``The challenge is keeping costs in line so we can continue 
     to be an affordable place for people to gather,'' he said. 
     Almost everything is made on site. The kitchen is large and 
     the smells of freshly baking bread (almost all bread, except 
     English muffins and rye, are made at the restaurant). Daily 
     specials include full turkey meals, roast beef, maple-cured 
     McKenzie ham and more.
       On virtually any day of the week, any time of the day, the 
     parking lot is packed, most of the cars, trucks and 
     motorcycles carrying Vermont license plates.
       Zecchinelli said his favorite moment during his years as 
     Wayside owner was the Red Sox rally he hosted after the Sox 
     won the 2004 World Series, noting the last time his team had 
     won was the year The Wayside opened--1918.
       ``We argued whether The Wayside has been the curse or the 
     Bambino,'' he joked.
       The restaurant rolled back prices that day, and more than 
     3,000 people came in to celebrate, ``mostly Red Sox fans, but 
     some employees were in Yankee jerseys. That's OK because 
     we're baseball fans.''
       What will happen to The Wayside in the future, one wonders? 
     It's impossible to know for sure.
       But, Zecchinelli pointed out, his son Jay has been working 
     the register since he was 4.

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