[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 73 (Tuesday, May 3, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2271-S2272]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    RECOGNIZING TWIN FALLS SANDWICH COMPANY AND KOTO BREWING COMPANY

 Mr. RISCH. Madam President, Idaho small businesses have shown 
immense resilience in the face of labor shortages, supply chain 
disruptions, and rising costs. These small businesses deserve to be 
celebrated for their great work in preserving the values unique to our 
communities. I am proud to relaunch Support Local Gems, a statewide 
initiative, on May 6, to encourage Idahoans to support the small 
businesses that make the Gem State special. As a member and former 
chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and 
Entrepreneurship, I am pleased to honor Twin Falls Sandwich Company and 
Koto Brewing Company located in Twin Falls as one of Idaho's Small 
Businesses of the Month for May 2022.
  Fifteen years ago, Twin Falls Sandwich Company owner Shane Cook 
visited the Magic Valley and fell deeply in love with the community. He 
believed the downtown area had the potential to be a lively gathering 
place for the people of Twin Falls. Shane took his restaurant expertise 
and vision to restore a Main Avenue building to its original rustic red 
brick and customized a menu almost entirely sourced from local farmers 
and producers. Thanks to their 10 years of business, the Sandwich 
Company has become a mainstay for many in the Magic Valley.
  Take a short stroll down Main Avenue, and you will find another 
passion of Shane's at Koto Brewing Company. Named after Tojiro ``Tom'' 
Koto, a Japanese immigrant who built the building in 1920, Koto Brewing 
Co. has been serving gourmet pub food, a full dinner menu, and an 
eclectic beer list since 2018. Shane and his business partner, Twin 
Falls native and brewmaster Pierre Tusow, spent a year and a half 
exposing the building's original brick and wood flooring and adding 
tabletops made from Twin Falls High School's old gym floor. Shane and 
Pierre also pride themselves on donating $10 from every barrel of beer 
brewed to local charities. The local touches along with live music from 
local artists and a good laugh from comedians from all over the country 
make Koto Brewing Co. the gathering place Shane envisioned 15 years 
ago.
  Congratulations to Shane Cook and all of the employees at Twin Falls 
Sandwich Company and Koto Brewing Company for being selected as an 
Idaho Small Business of the Month for May 2022. You are an outstanding 
example of what it means to be one of Idaho's Local Gems. You make our 
great State

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proud, and I look forward to your continued growth and success.

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