R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, The residents of Pampa enthusiastically support a 1-2 noted dining landmark in their community and it is fitting to join 1-3 with them in recognizing Coney Island Cafe as it commemorates 66 1-4 years as a successful family owned business; and 1-5 WHEREAS, In 1933, Bill Coronis started the restaurant using 1-6 recipes he brought from his native Greece; his nephews, John and 1-7 Ted Gikas, began working with their uncle as boys and have managed 1-8 the business since 1946; and 1-9 WHEREAS, Through the years, this popular establishment has 1-10 fed thousands of coneys to generations of hungry Texans and 1-11 countless visitors to the Pampa area; the chili dogs with 1-12 trimmings are still a favorite meal as the cafe handles a 1-13 lunch-hour rush six days a week, 49 weeks a year, closing its doors 1-14 only for the last week of May and the first two weeks of June; and 1-15 WHEREAS, The food is satisfying, as is the entire dining 1-16 experience here; the Coney Island Cafe evokes in its longtime 1-17 customers memories of childhood meals, teenaged dates, and family 1-18 gatherings; instead of writing down orders, waitresses sing them 1-19 out to the Gikas brothers, who work side by side at the storefront 1-20 window grill greeting lifelong friends who come in for coneys and a 1-21 slice of pie from one of 20 baked by John each day; and 1-22 WHEREAS, The Gikas brothers recall some of their more 1-23 well-known visitors; Bob Wills used to wash dishes at the cafe in 1-24 the 1930s and Woody Guthrie ate there, lived upstairs for a time, 2-1 and even wrote a song about the restaurant; and 2-2 WHEREAS, John and Ted Gikas and their Coney Island Cafe have 2-3 remained significant in the life of Pampa for many generations, and 2-4 it is fitting that they be recognized at this time; now, therefore, 2-5 be it 2-6 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-7 Legislature hereby commend John and Ted Gikas and the Coney Island 2-8 Cafe for 66 years of providing nourishment and friendship to the 2-9 citizens of Pampa and its visitors; and, be it further 2-10 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-11 prepared for John and Ted Gikas as an expression of high regard by 2-12 the Texas House of Representives. Chisum _______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 126 was adopted by the House on March 25, 1999, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House