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The GGRA was founded in 1936 by a group of San Francisco restaurateurs who recognized
the need for an organization to speak on behalf of the local restaurant industry.
It was an instant success: by early 1937, the organization grew so large it incorporated,
passed by-laws, and elected officers.
Early issues the GGRA addressed included racketeering and collective labor agreements—even
the impact of food rationing during World War II. Over time, GGRA moved into marketing,
introducing the annual
Dining Guide & and Purchasing Guide, and
education, by establishing a
scholarship foundation. GGRA started making group purchases of insurance
and worker’s compensation. And of course, the GGRA brought the concerns of its members
to legislators while keeping its members abreast of industry-related issues.
The GGRA is still here because we all face many of the same challenges the founders
did almost 70 years ago. In fact, some of San Francisco ’s oldest and most successful
restaurants are long-standing members of the GGRA—and are still members today! We
found photos of four cornerstone members: Fisherman's Grotto
in 1948, Alioto’s in 1950, the Cliff House
in 1950, and
Tarantino's
in 1951.
President’s List
1938-1946 Robert Grison,
Grison’s Steak House
1946-1948 Carl Franz,
Townsend’s
1948-1950 Malcolm Stewart,
Manning’s
1950-1951 Ralph Moody, B/G
Foods
1951-1953 Gus Cafeals, C &
R Coffee Shop
1953-1955 George Casten, Thirty
Geary Restaurant
1955-1956 Louis Rocca, Original
Joe’s
1956-1957 George Olsen,
Foster Lunch Systems
1957-1959 William Kabeary,
The Town House
1959-1961 Bob Campbell,
Bob’s Restaurant
1961-1963
Arthur Zimmerman, Zim’s Restaurant
1963-1965 Williard Houghton,
Manning’s
1965-1966 Richard Bronson,
Duschess, Inc.
1966-1968 Gary Nachmann,
Lyon ’s
1968-1971 Don Dianda, Doro’s
1971-1973 Al Pollack, The Main
Stem
1973-1975 Roland Gotti, Ernie’s
1975-1977 SJ Monro, Pam Pam
East
1977-1979 Harry Meharry, Miz.
Brown’s
1979-1981 Haig Mardikian, Omar
Khayyam’s
1981-1983 Rolf Lewis, Rolf’s
Since 1960
1983-1985 Al Petri, Alfred’s
1985-1986 John Kukulica, The
Iron Horse
1986-1988 Colleen Meharry,
Miz Brown’s Inc.
1988-1990 Marvin Israel, The
Carnelian Room
1990-1992 Helen Hobbs, Tia
Margarita
1992-1994 Al Falchi, The Waterfront
1994-1996 Paul Lazzareschi,
Bardelli’s Restaurant
1996-1997 Gianni Fassio,
Palio d’Asti
1997-2000 Kevin Westlye,
Franciscan Restaurant
2000-2002 Kathleen Harrington,
Harrington’s Bar & Grill
2002-2004 Mariann Costello,
Scoma’s Restaurant
2004-2005 Ken Zankel, The Grove
2006-2007 Glenn Meyers, High Flying Foods, Inc.
2008-2009 Daniel Scherotter, Palio d' Asti
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