[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 54 (Tuesday, March 25, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1829-S1830]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     RECOGNIZING MULHOLLAND GROCERY

 Ms. ERNST. Madam President, as chair 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 
Mulholland Grocery of Malvern, IA, as the Senate Small Business of the 
Week.
  In 1875, Fred E. Mulholland opened Mulholland Grocery as a dry goods 
store in the heart of Malvern, IA. In 1903, Fred added a small cash-
and-carry grocery section to the corner of the store. Eventually, the 
grocery section grew to become the entirety of the family business. 
After he passed away in 1945, Fred left the business to his son Fred A. 
Mulholland, who managed the company for close to 30 years until 1972 
when he retired. He sold the store to his son Gordon and longtime 
employee Cork Hansen. Cork and Gordon eventually split, and Mulholland 
Grocery changed hands several times before the business returned to the 
Mulholland family's ownership. In 2008, Tom Mulholland, the great-
grandson of Fred the founder, purchased the long-standing community 
grocery store now known for its meat processing services, homestyle 
meals, and warm customer service.
  Tom worked hard to serve the Malvern community and keep the town's 
only grocery store within 11 miles afloat. In 2013, his dedication was 
recognized when Mulholland Grocery won Iowa's Dream Big, Grow Here 
award. This statewide honor equipped

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Mulholland Grocery to reinvest in the store and buy catering equipment. 
Its reputation grew as local newspapers, radio shows, and magazines 
also circulated stories about the store and its specialty offerings. 
The beloved Malvern grocery store became widely recognized for its 
iconic ham salad, breakfast bratwurst, and smoked meats.
  In December 2021, tragedy struck when a massive fire devastated the 
Main Street location, prompting Tom to debate the future of the 
community's cherished business. Ultimately, Tom postponed his 
retirement, dedicating himself to a 3-year rebuild and expansion 
process. With help from community leaders and several Iowa-based design 
firms, Tom transformed the disaster into an opportunity and modernized 
the grocery store's floor plan to suit their 21st-century operations. 
During the rebuilding, Mulholland Grocery was featured in a short 
documentary, produced by an Oscar-winning filmmaker that premiered in 
April 2023. The film highlighted the importance of small businesses to 
their communities and gave the team an opportunity to travel around the 
country to advocate for fellow small businesses in Iowa and beyond.
  Tom and the family business remain active in the community as members 
of the Mills County Chamber of Commerce and the Malvern Area Betterment 
Association. I want to congratulate the Mulhollands and the entire team 
at Mulholland Grocery for their hard work and dedication to providing 
essential products and services to the Malvern community and families 
across Iowa. This April, Mulholland Grocery plans to officially 
commemorate its grand reopening and its 150th business anniversary in 
Iowa.

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