Specialty Restaurants Corporation (SRC) has always been a family affair, ever since World War II veteran David C. Tallichet first opened the doors to Long Beach, CA’s The Reef in 1958 – one of the first themed restaurant in the US – which led to the development of SRC, followed shortly by its remarkable reputation as a pioneer in the themed restaurant industry. Now, almost 60 years later, SRC continues to be a family-owned and -operated business, delivering excellence with 18 properties across the country.
As Chairman, CEO and President, John Tallichet sits at the helm of this family business. Born and raised in Southern California, he has seen his family’s business grow up around him. Tallichet holds a Bachelor of Science from University of Southern California, and Masters of Business Administration from Haas Business School at UC Berkeley and Columbia Business School at Columbia University. With more than 30 years of experience, Tallichet has led multiple restaurant business, working in a variety of roles – from busser to general manager to overseeing restaurant operations, he has touched every possible role within a restaurant.
In his role as President and CEO, Tallichet is responsible for the company’s restaurant, real estate and aviation divisions. He aims to be a collaborative and supportive mentor to the many departments he works with, building trust with both the individuals and the teams to ensure their growth and success. As a family business, putting the company ahead of family issues has always been the key to the organization’s success. He is also able to set the tone for company culture fully supported by family – a perk in its own right. Tallichet is also heavily involved in the local restaurant and aviation communities – he works closely with the California Restaurant Association (CRA), where he serves on the CRA’s Orange County Board of Directors, the CRA State Board, and as Chairman of the CRA Foundation Board. He is also a board member of the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, AZ, and is a trustee of the Flight Test Historical Foundation at Edwards AFB.