January 20, 2005

LongtimPorts O’Call Restaurant Saved at Eleventh Hour
By Arthur R. Vinsel, Community News Reporter

     Longtime waterfront landmark Ports O’ Call Restaurant, where three generations have worked, dined and toasted special events since 1961 is open under new management with only a 15-hour closure, as harbor entrepreneur Jayme Wilson threw out a lifeline to save it from going under after the Port refused to renew its lease.
     The change of command concluded after a grueling 24-hour period of telephone negotiations among Wilson, Specialty Restaurants Inc., whose negotiator called the landlord Port of Los Angeles’ bluff in a lengthy clash of wills, and Port Interim Executive Director Bruce Seaton.
     “Needless to say, I haven’t slept much,” quipped Wilson, owner of the Spirit Cruises tour boats and the Boardwalk CafÈ, Berth 77 neighbors of the embattled restaurant, as well as General Manager of Ports O’ Call Village. The two-time past president of the San Pedro Peninsula Chamber of Commerce said too much was at stake—far more than one business—in light of community struggles of recent years to give the equivalent of economic CPR to the aging 1960s shopping and recreational complex.
     Company spokesman John Kenny conceded the outcome for the firm operating 35 other upscale, white-tablecloth establishments in 11 other states, was a disappointment to corporate officials.
     “We’d rather it had turned out differently, but in the end we’re comfortable with it,” said Kenny, who was at the Jan. 12 Harbor Commission meeting along with POC Restaurant General Manager Jim Ryan and scores of their workers.

• All employees, about 100, retain their jobs and in fact will enjoy raises because Specialty Restaurants was exempt from a city/POLA statute requiring any new operator to pay market rate, if not union-equivalent wages.

• Wilson, whose Spirit Cruises also operates out of Long Beach’s Seaport Village, will manage the beloved restaurant on a temporary lease for at least six months, while POLA seeks bids from other interested parties. Wilson will bid to keep the franchise, which was simply added to his existing contract for management of the Village itself, awarded two years ago. Under his guidance, the once-renowned visitor destination is cleaner and brighter.

• Efforts begin immediately to expand the harbor side establishment’s business which suffered noticeably under a month-to-month lease as Specialty Restaurants’ entrenched Tallichet family and the powerful port warred with words and strong wills. Longtime executive Bill Tallichet, in fact, left the company’s Anaheim-based fold and opened his own new restaurant in Palos Verdes, which some observers took to be a sign of the end of the POC Restaurant.

• With the increase in the staff payroll, which Wilson praises highly for its loyalty and spirit in the face of adversity, it is unlikely the restaurant will make money in the coming year. The restaurant will have many more challenges to face, including relocation. Promenade plans show open harbor waters where it now stands, while the operators insisted they must stay put.

     “Everything is back to normal and functioning smoothly,” said bartender Art Perez. “Everybody’s happy. We were walking on eggshells there for awhile, not knowing what would happen. We have a staff meeting Friday with the new operator and people say he is great.”
     Perez began work at the age of 15 for Specialty Restaurants in the old, since-demolished Yankee Whaler dinner house in the Village, where his father was head bartender for many years. He’s worked at POC Restaurant three months this time.
     The normally self-effacing Wilson chuckles admitting his first thought when a Specialty Restaurants executive called him late Thursday, Jan. 13, to glumly report negotiations had collapsed and they were closing.
     “I was always confident something would be worked out,” says Wilson, who was taken by surprise but responded.
     “If the restaurant closed, it would really be a blow to all the tenants here who have hung on and worked so hard the past few years. Let’s see if we can’t work something out, “ he said, opening a phone dialogue that continued for hours, setting up the deal.
     He said three points occurred to him. “I’m the only one who can do this (now.) We’ve got to maintain customer satisfaction. If that many more people stop coming, the Village will suffer and the tenants will suffer. And there’s a great bunch of employees there. Wonderful people.”
     Indeed, a delegation of probably 75 workers attended the Wednesday, Jan. 12 Harbor Commission meeting carrying paper placards that read: Save Our Jobs! Several made impassioned pleas to commissioners in behalf of the restaurant.
     Catering Manager Darla LaBray and her daughter Jessica, a beginning hostess spoke, as did another young woman who has followed her father and late grandfather into the Ports O Call Restaurant’s wait staff.
     Perez, too, was among the sizable crowd of employees, who was very worried at the time.
     “We hear you,” said Harbor Commissioner Camilla Townsend. Commission President Nick Toncich assured the lamenting staff that no matter what, POLA has planned to keep the restaurant open albeit perhaps under new management, for closure would be to no one’s advantage.
     “What Specialty Restaurants wants from us is not publicized equally,” he said regarding letters to the editor in area newspapers pleading with the Harbor Commission to relent and work things out with the operators. These were in response to a press release by the company urging community support.
     The restaurant chain had sought forgiveness of back rent owed POLA and the City of Los Angeles and wants Waterfront Promenade plans to exempt it from eventual demolition. The POLA offer would give them another site on the Promenade, but they would have to build their own dinner house there.