[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 58 (Thursday, March 30, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1086-S1087]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    RECOGNIZING PRIMROSE RESTAURANT

 Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, as ranking member of the Senate 
Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, each week I recognize 
an outstanding Iowa small business that exemplifies the American 
entrepreneurial spirit. This week, it is my privilege to recognize the 
Primrose Restaurant of Corning, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week for the week of April 3, 2023.
  As a proud Iowan, I believe that we are home to one of the best and 
most innovative culinary scenes in the world. A small business that 
truly exemplifies this is Primrose in Adams County. Located in the 
charming Great American Main Street district of Corning, IA, Primrose 
serves the nearly 1,500-person town and the surrounding area by 
providing quality food and excellent service to the region. Husband and 
wife duo, Joel Mahr and Jill Fulton, started Primrose in 2018 with the 
vision of offering world-class dining, with quality, farm-to-table 
ingredients, to the hard-working folks of southwest Iowa. Joel, who is 
an Omaha, NE, native, brought 18-years' worth of cooking experience as 
a chef, including 7 years as head chef, in his hometown. While in 
Omaha, Chef Mahr received the ``Cooking Light'' Neighborhood Chef Award 
in 2013 for his work in their restaurant scene. While Chef Mahr heads 
the kitchen, his wife handles the front of the restaurant and is the 
resident mixologist. The couple chose Corning as the home base for 
their restaurant due to her family connections in the area. Jill's 
family owns Fulton Family Farms, which is the supplier of fresh produce 
to Primrose. Fulton Family Farms is only a 20-minute drive from the 
restaurant and provides them with some of the best produce on the 
planet. Primrose also works with the Iowa Beef Council to ensure that 
they have the highest quality cuts of meat for their restaurant.
  A unique aspect about the restaurant's menu is that it rotates on a 
weekly basis, offering a variety of cocktails, wine, and beer that pair 
well with their gourmet dishes. They operate an active Facebook account 
that contains pictures of their mouthwatering dishes and updates folks 
looking for a bite to eat on their ever-changing menu. Primrose also 
offers in-store pickup services for a fine-dining experience at home, 
in addition to their indoor and outdoor seating.
  Since their 2018 opening, Primrose has accumulated quite the array of 
awards and magazine features. They are the winner of the Adams County 
Chamber of Commerce Business of the Year for 2018 and the Entrepreneur 
of the Year award in 2020. Due to the vast popularity of Primrose, it 
has become a hotspot for travelers throughout the region, and the 
publication Midwest Living included it on their list of ``9 Restaurants 
Worth the Drive'' due to their sustained success in Adams County. Their 
contributions to the Iowa

[[Page S1087]]

dining scene and their revitalization of the rustic storefront they 
occupy have been recognized at the State level as well, with the Iowa 
Economic Authority awarding the restaurant as the 2019 ``Superior 
Interior Rehabilitation'' winners as part of their ``Main Street Iowa 
Awards.'' In addition to major publications, various food and dining 
blogs list Primrose as a ``must-see'' restaurant due to their 
commitment to their ever-changing menu and farm-to-table experience.
  One of the many beautiful things about Iowa is our commitment to 
helping each other when times get tough. In 2020, when the world was 
shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Primrose went above and beyond 
by providing their quality meals to local students who could no longer 
rely on school to provide their lunches.
  Owning a small business truly is the American dream, and the great 
State of Iowa is fortunate to have Primrose Restaurant call the Hawkeye 
State home. By taking the time to provide locally sourced ingredients, 
amazing service, and world-class dining in a small town, Primrose is a 
prime example of what makes small businesses great. I want to 
congratulate the entire team at Primrose Restaurant for their continued 
commitment to culinary excellence in their work. I look forward to 
seeing their continued growth and success in Iowa.

                          ____________________