City of Pittsburgh - File #: 2009-1575

• File #: 2009-1575
• Version: 1
• Type: Proclamation
• Status: Adopted
• File created: 6/23/2009
• In control: City Council
• Final action: 6/23/2009
• Title: NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby recognize Pamela Cohen and Gail Klingensmith for their successful business operation based on trust and mutual respect while giving back to the community by volunteering with the East End Cooperative Ministry, Rainbow Kitchen and homeless people and congratulates them for being recognized and invited by President Barack Obama to prepare their fantastic pancakes for him and his guests; and, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, June 23, 2009, to be “PAMELA'S DAY” in the City of Pittsburgh. REV. RICKY V. BURGESS, PATRICK DOWD, DARLENE HARRIS, BRUCE A. KRAUS, JIM MOTZNIK, TONYA PAYNE, BILL PEDUTO AND THERESA KAIL-SMITH
• Sponsors: Douglas Shields, All Members
• Indexes: PROCLAMATION - MR. SHIELDS

Date	Ver.	Action By	Action	Result
6/23/2009	1	City Council	Adopted	Pass

Body
WHEREAS, the meeting of Pamela Cohen and Gail Klingensmith in an amateur golf league circuit in 1978 resulted in the formation of one of the most visible and successful businesses in the City of Pittsburgh; and,

WHEREAS, Pam Cohen, a lifelong Pittsburgher and graduate of Allderdice High School and the University of Pittsburgh, and Gail Klingensmith from Jeannette, PA and a graduate of Edinboro University, became friends and business partners when they purchased the existing Papa Joe's restaurant operation in Squirrel Hill and transformed it from just a hamburger joint to a breakfast specialty restaurant, featuring pancakes that Pam invented and home fries that she perfected; and,

WHEREAS, using paper and plastic products as they gradually bought real plates using their tip money, Pam cooked and Gail waitressed until they acquired the Shadyside Papa Joe's in 1984, launching their extraordinary entrepreneurship now with 85-90 employees in six locations; and

WHEREAS, the purely coincidental meeting of Pam and Gail and Michelle and then Senator Barack Obama occurred on Pennsylvania Primary Day in May 2008 when the candidate, his wife and the Secret Service appeared at Pamela's in the Strip for breakfast and resulted in President and Mrs. Obama becoming devotees of the Pamela's Pancakes; and,

WHEREAS, when the President was scheduled to host a Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast for Veterans, he requested Pamela's pancakes, launching a sequence of events for Pam and Gail in which arrangements were made for their food purveyor to overnight Pamela's secret ingredients to the White House through the screening facility in Maryland. Not being permitted to bring utensils or product with them, Pam was able to cook and Gail plate platter after platter of the Strawberry and Cream Pancakes, curiously flipped with their very own special ultra-thin pancake flippers; and,

WHEREAS, Pam and Gail were able to spend time with the President and then relax and...