The publication is reproduced in full below:
IN HONOR OF GARY'S BAR-B-CUE
______
HON. TED BUDD
of north carolina
in the house of representatives
Thursday, July 29, 2021
Mr. BUDD. Madam Speaker, I rise today to honor the time-tested excellence of Gary's Bar-B-Cue, a local favorite and culinary staple of the town of China Grove.
The North Carolina barbecue place, owned and operated by Gary Ritchie, celebrated 50 years of business on April 21, 2021. The restaurant's popularity and longevity can largely be attributed to Gary's principled commitment to ``Good food, good service, and a clean restaurant,'' Gary's Bar-B-Cue epitomizes the core American values of hard work, determination, and generosity that fuel small business success and turn paying customers into lifelong friends.
Like many business owners, Gary Ritchie's start in the barbecue business began before he opened his own shop. After six years of working in curb service at Johnson's Barbecue, Gary converted a former Gulf Oil service station into his own restaurant, eventually expanding the venue's capacity three times. Gary's Bar-B-Cue now accommodates up to 216 diners. The building's seating expansion testifies not only to business success, but to Gary's aim to make everyone feel at home in his restaurant.
Gary's is a family business--but not just because Gary and Sylvia Ritchie married the year before they opened the restaurant. While the Ritchies have worked together throughout their restaurant's tenure, Gary and his staff make a point of treating every customer like kin, and many customers keep coming back because of the friendly service. Some might even say that Gary's barbecue dip is the only sauce around that runs thicker than blood.
For Gary, his family, and staff, the business was never merely about turning a profit. Over the decades, Gary's has become much more than just a restaurant serving up delicious southern food and barbecue. The China Grove establishment regularly hosts community organizations and groups that come for a good meal--yes--but foremost to belong Through it all, Gary seems to have had his sights set on something loftier than pulled pork-namely, making every diner in his restaurant feel known and respected, regardless of where they come from, the clothes on their back, or even their political affiliation.
In a culture of heightened fear, animosity, and division, perhaps we could learn a thing or two from the slow-cooked wisdom of Gary Ritchie:
``The easiest thing in the world is to be nice to people. It don't cost you nothing.'' Please join me in celebrating the enduring success of Gary Ritchie and Gary's Bar-B-Cue.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 133
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up