[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 15]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 22705]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                 TRIBUTE TO ITALIAN GARDENS RESTAURANT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. KAREN McCARTHY

                              of missouri

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 11, 2000

  Ms. McCARTHY of Missouri. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to 
a Kansas City, Missouri family tradition. Seventy-five years ago a 
small, family owned business established its roots in the heart of 
Kansas City. Today, the Italian Gardens Restaurant is a well 
established and celebrated Kansas City landmark and popular eatery.
  The late John Bondon, Sr., first opened the Italian Gardens 
Restaurant in 1925 with his nephew Frank Lipari. It was a difficult 
time for the partners and most of the country as the economy collapsed 
and a world war became a reality. Despite these challenges Italian 
Gardens persevered and in 1933 the restaurant was able to move to its 
current location at 1110 Baltimore with the help of a $1,500 loan from 
a waitress. John Bondon and Frank Lipari owned only one new pair of 
shoes worn by whomever was working with the public in the front of the 
restaurant. When America entered World War II, the Italian Gardens 
recognized the anti-Italian sentiments present at this time and was 
forced to temporarily change the name of the restaurant to ``The 
Gardens.'' The restaurant was available for dinner only since many of 
the staff was working in the defense industry.
  Over the past 75 years, the Italian Gardens has spanned five 
generations of family proprietorship and attracted a large and loyal 
following of patrons. The restaurant has attracted a diverse crowd of 
customers such as Joe Di Maggio, Katherine Hepburn, Frank Sinatra, 
Liberace, and the famed outlays Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow. For 
seventy-five years the Italian Gardens has been known by businessmen, 
artists, athletes, and neighbors to be a large community table and 
gathering place where everyone is made to feel welcome and part of the 
family.
  Throughout their rich heritage the Italian Gardens Restaurant has 
been a significant charitable and civic contributor to our community, 
including lending the talents and expertise of its executives to 
critical boards and commissions benefitting the Greater Kansas City 
Area. The Italian Gardens family includes the now retired Carl DiCapo, 
John Bondon, president of the restaurant company, and great-nephew of 
the original co-founder, Bondon's mother, Carolyn Berbiglia, Bondon's 
wife, Vicki, and his daughter Bianca. The Italian Gardens is a Kansas 
City landmark that has served as a model of success in our community. 
It is one of the few longtime family owned operations still present in 
our region. This cherished local eatery has established a standard of 
excellence that will continue to be celebrated for years to come.
  Mr. Speaker, please join me in congratulating the Italian Gardens 
Restaurant family as it celebrates seventy-five years of service to the 
Kansas City community.

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