[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 53 (Thursday, March 24, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S1772]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                    RECOGNIZING OUR BEST RESTAURANT

 Mr. PAUL. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Kentucky small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the 
small business, Our Best Restaurant of Smithfield, KY, as the Senate 
Small Business of the Week.
  In 1990, the late Kenneth Way and his wife Kay embarked on a new 
adventure in the autumn of their lives. After retiring from a career in 
the retail industry, Kenneth bought an old wheat mill in Smithfield, 
KY, population 100. Joined by his wife Kay who had just retired from 
her career serving the Kentucky State government, the two opened Our 
Best Restaurant. Kenneth's son Kenny Way will tell you himself that his 
father was not in the restaurant business; he was in the ``people 
business.'' Kenneth's motto was that if you treat people well, your 
business will succeed no matter what you do. Clearly, Kenneth was on to 
something as his restaurant and legacy continue to thrive for the past 
32 years.
  Kenneth's son Kenny Way now owns and operates the business, carrying 
on his father's mission of providing top quality service to everyone 
who walks in the door. Though Our Best Restaurant consistently serves 
delicious country cooking, it is the warm and friendly atmosphere that 
keeps people coming back time and time again. With a population as 
small as Smithfield's, the restaurant cannot depend on the typical 
walk-in customer that other Main Street businesses often see; their 
bread and butter are the locals--and even visitors, who keep coming 
back. A change in ownership never stopped their ``regulars'' from 
choosing Our Best Restaurant because Kenny learned from his late father 
that a loyal customer will only come back if you treat them right. That 
is why the staff of Our Best Restaurant put in such an effort to get to 
know their customers, to meet their families and their children, to ask 
them about their day, and to show that they care about the customer's 
experience beyond just the meal.
  Such high-quality customer service and food have allowed Our Best 
Restaurant to grow and expand. Since 1990, they have expanded their 
dining space and have branched out to offer catering services asides 
from their dine-in operations. The catering business became a crucial 
stream of revenue for the restaurant as the COVID-19 pandemic put a 
temporary end to in-person dining. Local energy and utility companies 
turned to Our Best Restaurant to safely serve meals to their employees 
during the height of the pandemic. Our Best Restaurant has consistently 
proved to be a steadfast member of the small community of Smithfield. 
The restaurant maintains great relationships with the local high 
school, looking out for the local students and always feeding them a 
hearty meal of Kentucky country cooking.
  The reputation of the feel-good-food and friendly atmosphere of Our 
Best Restaurant has allowed them to be a destination in themselves. 
They often have folks drive in from Jefferson County and Franklin 
County to enjoy their famous cooking. And of course, any and all 
visitors receive the same smalltown welcome as any Smithfield local 
would. Our Best Restaurant is the entrepreneurial embodiment of the 
late Kenneth and Kay's dream come true and a wonderful example of a 
father's mission carried on by his son. All across the country are 
little towns like Smithfield, areas that contain little more than a 
post office and a church, and it is businesses like Our Best Restaurant 
that keep those small communities thriving. Congratulations to Kenny, 
his son Aric, and the entire Our Best Restaurant team. I wish them the 
best of luck and look forward to watching their continued growth and 
success in Kentucky.

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