Tallichet found adventure in sky, eateries
WWII and lifelong pilot, theme restaurant developer kept passions to end.
By Greg Mellen, Staff writer
Article Launched: 11/07/2007 08:39:05 PM PST
LONG BEACH - David Tallichet Jr.'s head was often in the clouds, literally and figuratively.
As an aviator and former combat pilot, he flew World War II-era aircraft until the final months of his life. As a businessman, he was constantly dreaming up new concepts and schemes for the themed restaurants operated nationwide, including his first, The Reef Restaurant in Long Beach.
Tallichet, who was born in Texas, died Oct. 31 after a battle with prostate cancer. He was 84.
"He'd say he got a slow start, but once he got going he made up for it," John Tallichet said of his father.
After serving in World War II, where he flew B-17 Flying Fortresses on more than 20 combat missions in Europe, Tallichet began working for Hilton Hotels, eventually becoming general manager of the Lafayette Hotel in downtown Long Beach in 1955.
It was there that Tallichet met Cecilia, his first wife and the mother of his four children.
Several years before, he had visited a remote restaurant in the Midwest that drew large crowds because of its backwoods theme.
That gave Tallichet the idea of creating restaurants that featured not only good food but exotic or historic atmospheres.
That eventually led to the opening of the Polynesian-themed Reef Restaurant in 1958, when the idea of a concept restaurant was still rather new and bold. Shortly after, Tallichet opened Ports O' Call in San Pedro and a food dynasty was in the making.
Under the banner of Specialty Restaurants Corporation, Tallichet would go on to become a pioneer in the industry, opening more than 100 eateries nationwide with themes ranging from World War II combat aeronautics, often in locales with views of airports like the Proud Bird in Los Angeles, to Cajun atmospheres, to South Sea islands to restaurants with mining motifs.
Tallichet's accomplishments were only outpaced by his dreams, it seems.
"I remember he wanted to create an aviation theme park," John recalls. "As a kid growing up, I would see all these plans on the walls for shopping areas and villages that never got built."
"He was always excited about the next deal," says son Bill Tallichet, who is now general manager of The Reef.
In the 1960s, Tallichet envisioned a revolving restaurant atop the International Tower in Long Beach. At another time, he actually leased land in Florida for a park that was later scrapped.
"My dad was a creative thinker," John said. "He always saw things differently."
John, who now runs Specialty Restaurants Corporation, says he remembers his father always with a yellow legal pad in his hands either dreaming up a new scheme or reminding himself what needed to be done next.
Tallichet's success as a businessman allowed him to indulge his other passion, flying.
Tallichet was the founder of Military Aircraft Restoration Company. By John's estimation, at one time his father had about 40 working airplanes and another 100 or so in different stages of rehabilitation.
Tallichet provided many of the Corsairs that were used in the television show, "Black Sheep Squadron." He also owned and flew the "Memphis Belle" bomber featured in the 1990 movie of the same name, as well as many others.
In January, Tallichet was recertified to fly the craft and piloted it to Michigan, where he was honored as the last WWII combat pilot still flying the plane.
Bill remembers his wheelchair-bound dad on the telephone with a friend making plans to fly his B-17 back to Cleveland just days before he died.
In his pursuit of WWII aircraft, Tallichet was one of the first to venture to remote locales in places such as Libya and New Guinea.
While the flying was adventurous, both sons say it also allowed Tallichet to exercise his business talents and passions.
"He loved the art of negotiation," John said. "So, while there was the adventure of flying, there's also a lot of horse trading that goes on with these old planes and he loved that."
"His passion was doing business," Bill remembers. "He'd get more passionate about saving $100 buying a car."
Tallichet's sons continue to work with the restaurant company their dad created.
Bill says The Reef had the best year in its history last year. And although Specialty Restaurants Corporation has downsized since its heyday, it still runs a number of eateries in the Southland and nationally and has expanded into catering.
David Tallichet is survived by his wife, Carol Margaret Tallichet of Orange; daughter Catherine Ann of Jackson Hole, Wyo.; son William Robert and his wife Jasmin of San Pedro; John David and his wife Karen of Newport Beach; and James Lee of Jackson Hole, Wyo.
Private funeral services have already been held, but a celebration of Tallichet's life will take place Nov. 17 at Orange Hill Restaurant, 6410 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, between noon and 3 p.m.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, Okla., 73123-1718 or online at
www.cancer.org.
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