Welcome to This is America. I’m Christopher Cruise.
And I’m Faith Lapidus. Many small,
family-owned businesses1 in the United States are struggling
to survive2. Along
with3 the sluggish economy4, they face5
competition from big box chain stores6 and
restaurants. This week on our program,
we visit a Washington, DC area hardware store7, drugstore8
and restaurant and learn9 how they are
competing successfully10 for customers11.
The restaurant business is very competitive12 in
the United States and many people choose13 to eat
out14 at well-known15 chain
restaurants. So how are small, family-owned16
restaurants making ends meet17? We visited Primo Family Restaurant in
suburban Washington. It is an example of
a small, family-owned operation where business is booming18.
It is another19 busy
day at Primo Family Restaurant -- a popular dining spot20 in
Alexandria, Virginia for more than 25 years.
C.A. Savoy says he does not like the atmosphere or food at the chain
restaurants. Instead21,
he enjoys22 eating at Primo’s.
“Everything in here is home cooking23. It’s all fresh food24 and
delicious.”
Server Tina Mitrakas has worked at Primo’s since25
it opened.
“I like the customers. Everybody is friendly26. I like the people I work with. It’s like27 my
second home.”
Lynne Sepple’s son28 Nick
is here, celebrating29 his birthday.
“My son has been here since he was six days
old. He’s been here once a week30
since then.”
Mary Wise often31 stops
by Primo’s after work. She plays
the role32 of Martha Washington, wife of the first United
States president, at nearby33 Mount Vernon. It is the home and property34
where George and Martha Washington once lived. Ms. Wise says she enjoys Primo’s because it feels
comfortable35.
“It is a place where you can consistently have
good food, not too expensive36. You know you’re never going to be ever37
confronted with something that’s a surprise. I think people like that.”
Another appeal38, she
says, is owner39 Jim Nicopoulos.
“I like to get involved with40
my clients. I find out
about41 them. I touch42
them. I have to be involved with
my customers and my staff43 at the same time44.”
Everyone calls him Jimmy, including Mr. Savoy
and his wife, who are long-time customers.
“We’ve become part of45 Jimmy’s
family now. He refers to46
Joyce and I as his mother and father.”
Primo Family Restaurant is truly47
a family business -- from the photos on the wall, to the dining area,
where his father-in-law48 seats49 patrons50. And in the kitchen, Jimmy’s cousin51
Spiro Routoulas prepares Greek specialties52.
“He’s a funny guy53. He comes inside the kitchen and tastes54
whatever55 I make.
Oh, it’s fun.”
“It’s quality control, Greek-style.”
Besides56 the food and friendliness57, Jimmy says Primo’s
has another appeal over the chain restaurants.
“Big chains have to go through58 processes
of buying their foods from large industries and distributors59. We can get our produce local. We can get our meats60.”
Elizabeth Bessel notices the difference61
and stays away from62 the nearby chains.
“I just don’t find the food to be that
great. When I eat here, Jimmy will come
up to the table and tell us that he got that produce from somebody’s farm.”
Jimmy says he thinks there is room63
in the neighborhood64 for both family and
chain restaurants. His customers agree65.
“It’s been here for 25 years. I see it being here 25 more years.”
VOCABULARY
1. family-owned businesses = negocios possuidos por familias
2. struggling to survive = lutando para sobreviver
3. Along with = junto com
4. sluggish economy = economia lenta
5. face = enfrentam
6. chain stores = cadeia de lojas
7. hardware store = loja de ferragens
8. drugstore = farmacia
9. learn = aprender
10. successfully = com sucesso
11. customers = clientes
12. competitive = competitivo
13. choose = escolher
14. eat out = comer fora
15. well-known = bem conhecidos
16. family-owned = possuido por familias
17. making ends meet = fazendo frente às despesas
18. booming = crescendo
19. another = um outro
20. dining spot = ponto de refeições
21. Instead = ao invés disso
22. enjoys = desfrutar, curtir
23. home cooking = comida caseira
24. fresh food = comida fresca
25. since = desde
26. friendly = simpatico
27. like = como
28. son = filho
29. celebrating = comemorando
30. once a week = uma vez por semana
31. often = frequentemente
32. plays the role = representa o papel
33. nearby = proximidades
34. property = propriedade
35. feels comfortable = sente-se confortável
36. too expensive = caro demais
37. ever = jamais
38. appeal= atração
39. owner = dono
40. get involved with = envolver-se com
41. find out about = descobrir sobre
42. touch = tocar
43. staff = equipe
44. at the same time = ao mesmo tempo
45. become part of = tornar-se parte de
46. refers to = referir-se a
47. truly = verdadeiramente
48. father-in-law = sogro
49. seats = poltronas
50. patrons = patrono
51. cousin = primo(a)
52. Greek specialties = especialidades gregas
53. funny guy = cara engraçado
54. tastes = saboreia
55. whatever = o que quer que
56. Besides = além de
57. friendliness = camaradagem, amizade
58. go through = passar por
59. distributors = distribuidores
60. meats = carnes
61. notices the difference = nota a diferença
62. stays away from = fica longe de
63. there is room = há espaço
64. neighborhood = vizinhança
65. agree = concordam
