[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 15]
[Senate]
[Page 21594]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                         ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS

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                           SHOLL'S CAFETERIA

 Mr. CLELAND. Mr. President, I come before you today speaking 
not simply for myself, but on behalf of the countless thousands of 
people who have frequented Sholl's Cafeteria in the seventy years since 
it opened. It is easy enough to use the word ``served'' when speaking 
of what almost any restaurant does; when speaking about Sholl's, 
though, the word takes on a very special and unique meaning.
  The history of Sholl's here in Washington is one of community, great 
food, and a deep caring for all patrons. Aside from established prices 
that afford nearly everyone an opportunity to enjoy a hot meal, Sholl's 
also has a policy of never turning away a hungry person. As Sholl's 
fights against modern economics in hopes of staying alive, it is 
essential that we rally to help this great institution.
  At this time I ask to have printed in the Record a letter from Jim 
McGrath to the Washington Post which I believe helps shed more light on 
what this establishment means to Washington and its citizens.
  The letter follows.

       As the nation mobilizes to combat the insidious foe of 
     terrorism, another drama of a far different kind and scope is 
     playing itself out in downtown Washington--the struggle for 
     survival of Sholl's Cafeteria. Despite heroic sacrifice and 
     Herculean labors by many--most notably its beloved 
     proprietors, George and Van Fleishell--absent a substantial 
     financial remedy, Sholl's will be forced to close its door as 
     soon as Oct. 31.
       The Sholl's story could easily get lost amid the tumult of 
     our national preoccupation and suffering in the wake of 
     September 11, but that would be a profound shame, because the 
     cafeteria's story has been one of special triumphs: of old-
     fashioned, all-American food, wonderfully prepared and 
     wonderfully served; of human pricing, so that nearly anyone 
     can afford to eat there; of multiculturalism, with terrific 
     employees, many there for generations, reflecting every 
     spectrum of the human family; of kindness, with an atmosphere 
     that welcomes everyone. It is a story of the triumph of 
     charity, Sholl's has given away enough free food to feed an 
     army 100 times over. During the past several years, however, 
     Sholl's has suffered from the decline in downtown dining. Its 
     tour-bus trade has eroded because of the weak economy. It has 
     endured bus-unfriendly parking restrictions. It has had to 
     deal with prolonged building renovation and reconstruction 
     while paying a huge rent. It has been put through the 
     economic wringer.
       Now another mobilization is needed to save this beloved 
     institution. I am not alone in expressing those sentiments. 
     They have been voiced by many, from the high and the mighty 
     to the mighty humble. They have come from legions of senior 
     citizens, bus loads of squealing kids and homeless people.
       On August 10, 1999, for example, the World Bank wrote to 
     the cafeteria's owners: ``You are correct to characterize 
     Sholl's as a charitable landmark. It would be a significant 
     loss to our neighborhood if you were to close your doors, 
     particularly for the large number of senior citizens, young 
     kids, disabled and homeless people whom you serve.''
       On July 8, 1998, U.S. Sen. Max Cleland of Georgia read into 
     the Congressional Record, ``Patrons of Sholl's have described 
     members of the Sholl family, who have owned and operated 
     Sholl's over the last 70 years, as having the biggest hearts 
     in Washington.''
       On March 7, 1999, Mike Kirwan, the late, great apostle to 
     the homeless, said, ``The stories I've heard from people on 
     the streets, their quiet moments of dignity, respect, warmth 
     and a full and nourishing meal at the hands of this wonderful 
     cafeteria could fill a book of essays.''
       Possibly, the one who said it best, though, was a child 
     who, on arrival from Pennsylvania on a school bus, told a 
     WTOP reporter, ``If it weren't for Sholl's Cafeteria, we 
     couldn't afford to come to Washington.''
       The hour is late, and the odds are long. Although some say 
     the time for Sholl's has past, I profoundly disagree, and I 
     hope others do too. Long live Sholl's Cafeteria.

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