[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 92 (Monday, June 3, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3159-S3160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 RECOGNIZING ROYAL FURNITURE AND DESIGN

 Mr. RUBIO. Mr. President, as chairman of the Senate Committee 
on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, it is my pleasure to recognize 
a service-minded small business. Small businesses fulfill important 
needs in our communities, not only through their valuable products and 
services, but also in their ability to connect with and assist their 
fellow neighbors in times of need. It is my distinct pleasure to name 
Royal Furniture and Design of the Florida Keys as the Senate Small 
Business of the Week.
  Founded in 1984, Royal Furniture and Design has grown from a single 
retail store in Marathon, FL, to a full service home design and 
remodeling company with three Keys showrooms and a warehouse in Florida 
City. Owned and operated by the Elwell family, Ross and Janice own the 
company, while their sons Chris and Ryan help to manage the Key West 
and Marathon stores. Today, Royal Furniture and Design employs 40 full-
time workers. The Elwell family has long-standing, generational ties 
with the Keys community as their family has been small business owners 
in Marathon since 1959.
  For decades, the Elwell's have been incredible philanthropists. 
Following

[[Page S3160]]

the devastation of Hurricane Irma, Royal Furniture and Design set up 
tents in their parking lot and fed members of the community every day 
for a month. Immediately following the hurricane, they donated space in 
their former Marathon location to the American Legion to store 
emergency relief and water supplies. In collaboration with other local 
organizations, they helped 48 families who were severely impacted by 
the storm with free, brand-new furniture.
  Royal Furniture and Design is an outstanding example of the 
charitable services that small businesses offer our communities 
throughout Florida. They continue to host charity cooking events 
throughout the Keys in addition to their Mardi Gras masquerade ball to 
benefit the Fishermen's Community Hospital. In 2018, Royal Furniture 
and Design was recognized as both the Best Family Owned Business and 
Best Business by Marathon Rotary Club and the Marathon Weekly 
Newspaper. Members of the Marathon community voted on these awards and 
ultimately chose Royal Furniture and Design for their dedication to 
customer service.
  Royal Furniture and Design and the entire Elwell family are an 
outstanding example of the American entrepreneurial spirit. They 
continue to go above and beyond to serve the Keys community while 
treating each customer like family. It is my pleasure to be able to 
recognize the Elwell family and the entire team at Royal Furniture and 
Design as the Senate Small Business of the Week.
  Congratulations, thank you for your service to Floridians, and I look 
forward to watching your continued service and success.

                          ____________________