[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 17120]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING JEN'S PLACE

 Ms. SNOWE. Mr. President, our Nation's small business owners 
know what it means to sacrifice every day for a dream. The risks, the 
fears, and the uncertainty are all familiar to those brave enough to 
strike out on their own and open a small business. Our country's 
entrepreneurs routinely prove that through dedication, hard work, and 
spirit, any vision can be realized. Few know the challenges of opening 
a small business like Jen Burton, who has overcome seemingly 
insurmountable obstacles to build from scratch one of Brunswick, 
Maine's most popular restaurants. I rise today to recognize Jen and her 
outstanding achievements at Jen's Place.
  Jen Burton understands the value of hard work. An inspiration and an 
example of the can-do spirit of Maine, Jen worked her way from welfare 
recipient to entrepreneur and restaurateur. As a single mother, she 
balances the personal demands of family with the professional 
challenges of running a restaurant. Jen's Place is now so popular that 
customers happily wait in a line that stretches out the door and around 
the side of the building. It is clear that her popularity is no passing 
trend. Jen's Place is a favorite of locals, students, and visitors, 
with its mouthwatering reputation constantly bringing hungry new 
patrons to its tables.
  Jen spent many years working in restaurants before opening Jen's 
Place. From those experiences, she learned the right and wrong way to 
run a restaurant. She learned the priorities and details that were 
important to master in her own business. Jen devoted months to 
perfecting her menu items, focusing on quality and taste rather than 
cost efficiency. She also values supporting other Maine small 
businesses and buys many of her ingredients locally. Her menu features 
dishes named after frequent patrons, and the eclectic decor is 
reminiscent of a family's cozy kitchen. The relaxed hometown feel and 
delicious comfort food is the essence of Jen's Place and is a product 
of Jen's tireless effort, perseverance, and culinary know-how.
  From humble beginnings to successful entrepreneur and local favorite, 
Jen Burton embodies the American dream. When the restaurant landscape 
seems dominated by fast-food and chain restaurants, it is heartening to 
see the success of restaurants like Jen's Place. Her passion and 
commitment to quality set her apart. I am proud to offer my 
congratulations to Jen and best wishes for her continued 
success.

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