Post by albanesehoney on Dec 2, 2007 1:50:13 GMT -5
Posted November 23, 2007
Albanian immigrant treats hundreds on Thanksgiving
By Eric Litke
Sheboygan Press staff
Xhevat Tahiri grew up eating beans for most meals in a dirt-floor home with three small rooms — two in winter when the donkey was kept inside.
Now, 37 years after coming to the United States, the 59-year-old Sheboygan man spends Thanksgiving Day showing his gratitude to the country that opened doors for an immigrant with a less than third-grade education.
"In this country, you can come with nothing — the way we came … with no education or nothing — and work hard and make something," he said in a Thursday interview at his business, Sheboygan's Family Restaurant. "I'm not a millionaire, but I'm making a very good living. I just try to give something back to the greatest country in the world."
Continuing a tradition now in its ninth year at the restaurant on South Business Drive, Tahiri served a free Thanksgiving dinner to everyone that walked through the door from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 700 came in the first four hours and he expected the crowd to equal last year's 850 by the end of the day.
"You have to respect a man that has a successful business and yet finds time to give something back to his community," said Jay Ratz, 54, of Sheboygan, who was among the diners at the bustling restaurant. "I think it's great. Says a lot about a person."
Tahiri, who moved to Sheboygan in 1998 to open the business, said the restaurant prepared 65 turkeys and 864 pieces of pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving spread.
"If you go away hungry, it's your own fault," said Ruth Price, 80, a regular customer of the restaurant enjoying her third Thanksgiving there with her husband.
Tahiri, an Albanian native who grew up in the village of Tatesh in Macedonia, calls the journey from the Communist country to America "from hell to heaven." He came to the United States in 1970 after a one-year stopover in Italy waiting for the necessary papers.
Tahiri speaks often of his first check, $43 earned assembling tennis shoes at a factory in New York City. That was more than he could have made in six months in Macedonia.
Waitress Jenni Trostorff, one of Tahiri's 30 employees, said she enjoyed her first year as part of Tahiri's Thanksgiving thank-you.
"You see a lot of smiling faces and you know that you touched people," said Trostorff, 27.
Added coworker Christina Ruiz, 24: "It's a good feeling inside. We're glad to do it."
The restaurant giveaway was one of two such efforts Thursday, joining the 20th annual Ecumenical Free Thanksgiving Day Dinner at Immaculate Conception Parish Hall. More than 100 volunteers there delivered more than 200 meals and served nearly 400 more at the church.
"Father Glenn (Powers) says grace — and we don't serve anything until he says grace — then the place is hopping," said Gert Walsh, one of the event's organizers. "It certainly makes it worthwhile when you have this many people responding and having fun."
First-time diner Mark Gabrielse, 53, said the church's meal was a blessing for people like him and his wife, who have no other family in the area.
"When you're by yourself … it's just another day," he said. "Now, getting involved with people, it makes you feel like it's still a special day, which it should be."
Back at Tahiri's restaurant, diners were similarly grateful.
"I think it's a wonderful thing that he's able to do it," said Eric Johnson, 48, of Sheboygan, who came with his wife, daughter and several in-laws. "It's a nice way for us to get together as a family."
Tahiri said he is happy to oblige.
"I cannot give to Uncle Sam, he's got plenty, so I give it to the people of the country," he said.
Albanian immigrant treats hundreds on Thanksgiving
By Eric Litke
Sheboygan Press staff
Xhevat Tahiri grew up eating beans for most meals in a dirt-floor home with three small rooms — two in winter when the donkey was kept inside.
Now, 37 years after coming to the United States, the 59-year-old Sheboygan man spends Thanksgiving Day showing his gratitude to the country that opened doors for an immigrant with a less than third-grade education.
"In this country, you can come with nothing — the way we came … with no education or nothing — and work hard and make something," he said in a Thursday interview at his business, Sheboygan's Family Restaurant. "I'm not a millionaire, but I'm making a very good living. I just try to give something back to the greatest country in the world."
Continuing a tradition now in its ninth year at the restaurant on South Business Drive, Tahiri served a free Thanksgiving dinner to everyone that walked through the door from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 700 came in the first four hours and he expected the crowd to equal last year's 850 by the end of the day.
"You have to respect a man that has a successful business and yet finds time to give something back to his community," said Jay Ratz, 54, of Sheboygan, who was among the diners at the bustling restaurant. "I think it's great. Says a lot about a person."
Tahiri, who moved to Sheboygan in 1998 to open the business, said the restaurant prepared 65 turkeys and 864 pieces of pumpkin pie for the Thanksgiving spread.
"If you go away hungry, it's your own fault," said Ruth Price, 80, a regular customer of the restaurant enjoying her third Thanksgiving there with her husband.
Tahiri, an Albanian native who grew up in the village of Tatesh in Macedonia, calls the journey from the Communist country to America "from hell to heaven." He came to the United States in 1970 after a one-year stopover in Italy waiting for the necessary papers.
Tahiri speaks often of his first check, $43 earned assembling tennis shoes at a factory in New York City. That was more than he could have made in six months in Macedonia.
Waitress Jenni Trostorff, one of Tahiri's 30 employees, said she enjoyed her first year as part of Tahiri's Thanksgiving thank-you.
"You see a lot of smiling faces and you know that you touched people," said Trostorff, 27.
Added coworker Christina Ruiz, 24: "It's a good feeling inside. We're glad to do it."
The restaurant giveaway was one of two such efforts Thursday, joining the 20th annual Ecumenical Free Thanksgiving Day Dinner at Immaculate Conception Parish Hall. More than 100 volunteers there delivered more than 200 meals and served nearly 400 more at the church.
"Father Glenn (Powers) says grace — and we don't serve anything until he says grace — then the place is hopping," said Gert Walsh, one of the event's organizers. "It certainly makes it worthwhile when you have this many people responding and having fun."
First-time diner Mark Gabrielse, 53, said the church's meal was a blessing for people like him and his wife, who have no other family in the area.
"When you're by yourself … it's just another day," he said. "Now, getting involved with people, it makes you feel like it's still a special day, which it should be."
Back at Tahiri's restaurant, diners were similarly grateful.
"I think it's a wonderful thing that he's able to do it," said Eric Johnson, 48, of Sheboygan, who came with his wife, daughter and several in-laws. "It's a nice way for us to get together as a family."
Tahiri said he is happy to oblige.
"I cannot give to Uncle Sam, he's got plenty, so I give it to the people of the country," he said.