The Golden Gate Restaurant Association’s mission is to celebrate and empower the restaurant community through advocacy, education, marketing, events, and training.
Founded by restaurateurs in 1936 to give restaurants a collective voice and bargaining power, the GGRA has evolved to be the singular representation and trusted one-stop resource for the culinary community in the Bay Area and beyond. We exist to advocate for restaurants’ unique interests. We do that within the corridors of City Hall and through year-round education and training programs to make sure our members are apprised of evolving legislation and stay in compliance. The GGRA also celebrates and showcases our members through great annual events like Eat Drink SF and SF Restaurant Week. We also gather the restaurant community together for our content rich 2-day Industry Conference. Our member community includes restaurants of all sizes and profiles and we have a valuable network of resources to support them through all stages of growth.
Are you a Bay Area restaurant owner or operator or a high value industry service provider, but not yet a member of the Golden Gate Restaurant Association? Learn more about our membership benefits and join our community!
History:
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 GGRA addressed included racketeering and collective labor agreements — even the impact of food rationing during World War II. Over time, GGRA moved into marketing, producing the annual Dining Guide & and Purchasing Guide, and education going as far as establishing a scholarship foundation. GGRA made group purchases of insurance and worker’s compensation, before those laws made it difficult for associations to do so. And of course, GGRA brought the concerns of its members to legislators while keeping its members aware of industry-related issues.
In 1968, Golden Gate Restaurant Association Scholarship Foundation (GGRASF) was founded. Every year the Trustees award tuition scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $10,000. We also give special awards in honor of industry role models David Rubenstein, General Counsel for GGRA from 1938-1968, and Robert Grison, co-founder and first President of GGRA.
PRESIDENT’S LIST
2019 – 2020 Stacy Jed, Bluestem Brasserie
2017 – 2018 Scott Rodrick, M.Y. China/Taste on the Fly
2015 – 2016 Todd Parent, Extreme Pizza
2012-2014 Pete Sittnick, Pat Kuleto Restaurants
2010-2011 Laurie Thomas, Nice Ventures
2008-2009 Daniel Scherotter, Palio d’ Asti
2006-2007 Glenn Meyers, High Flying Foods, Inc.
2004-2005 Ken Zankel, The Grove
2002-2004 Mariann Costello, Scoma’s Restaurant
2000-2002 Kathleen Harrington, Harrington’s Bar & Grill
1997-2000 Kevin Westlye, Franciscan Restaurant
1996-1997 Gianni Fassio, Palio d’Asti
1994-1996 Paul Lazzareschi, Bardelli’s Restaurant
1992-1994 Al Falchi, The Waterfront
1990-1992 Helen Hobbs, Tia Margarita
1988-1990 Marvin Israel, The Carnelian Room
1986-1988 Colleen Meharry, Miz Brown’s Inc.
1985-1986 John Kukulica, The Iron Horse
1983-1985 Al Petri, Alfred’s
1981-1983 Rolf Lewis, Rolf’s Since 1960
1979-1981 Haig Mardikian, Omar Khayyam’s
1977-1979 Harry Meharry, Miz. Brown’s
1975-1977 SJ Monro, Pam Pam East
1973-1975 Roland Gotti, Ernie’s
1971-1973 Al Pollack, The Main Stem
1968-1971 Don Dianda, Doro’s
1966-1968 Gary Nachmann, Lyon ‘s
1965-1966 Richard Bronson, Duchess, Inc.
1963-1965 Williard Houghton, Manning’s
1961-1963 Arthur Zimmerman, Zim’s Restaurant
1959-1961 Bob Campbell, Bob’s Restaurant
1957-1959 William Kabeary, The Town House
1956-1957 George Olsen, Foster Lunch Systems
1955-1956 Louis Rocca, Original Joe’s
1953-1955 George Casten, Thirty Geary Restaurant
1951-1953 Gus Cafeals, C & R Coffee Shop
1950-1951 Ralph Moody, B/G Foods
1948-1950 Malcolm Stewart, Manning’s
1946-1948 Carl Franz, Townsend’s
1938-1946 Robert Grison, Grison’s Steak House