Charles ‘Chick’ Marshall

Raised in a family seashore resort hotel and restaurant business in Wildwood New Jersey, Chick Marshall naturally, ended up graduating from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration.  After attending Officers candidate School, Chick served four years of active duty in the United States Navy in its Mess Management program overseeing an Officers Club and Bachelor Officers Quarters at the Naval Air Station in Quonset Point, Rhode Island.

Upon completing active duty in the Navy, the Marshall family relocated to Baltimore, Maryland where Chick was co-owner and general manager of the Gorsuch House, a fine dining restaurant co-owned by Brooks Robinson, Eddie Robinson & Joe Hamper.  By this time Chick’s children included sons Scott and Dion and the youngest, a daughter Cara. After three years in fine dining Chick was recruited to manage a large catering business in the suburbs of Baltimore for the next three years.

In 1969 he was invited to join a family business with coffee shops and fast food restaurants in both Arizona and Pennsylvania. As the company’s CEO, Chick was based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania where the company, under his management, opened eight more restaurants over the next three years.  The restaurants were owned by the Davenport family who eventually sold the Arizona restaurants.

In 1972, Chick Marshall was offered the position of Vice President and General Manager of Lawry’s Restaurants in Los Angeles, California.  At the time he joined them they had seven restaurants.  During the next five years Lawrys opened an additional six restaurants and was acquired by the Thomas J. Lipton Company.  Subsequently, Lipton became part of Unilever with the Frank family retaining ownership of the Lawrys restaurants

During 1977 the Marshall family sold its resort business in Wildwood, New Jersey. Chick’s mother, Flossy and brother, Ron favored continuing the family business and it was decided to look for an opportunity in Southern California.  After looking at many options the family purchased Mr Stox Restaurant in Anaheim, California which was managed by Chick, Ron & Debbie Marshall (Ron’s wife) until it closed in March 2013 after 36 years of Marshall family ownership..

Mr Stox was a large fine dining restaurant seating over 275 guests in six dining rooms.  In 1982 it received the Wine Spectator’s “Grand Award” for its 1500+ wine offerings.  Over the years it has received numerous acknowledgements for the quality of its food and service; among them are the Distinguished Restaurants of North America “Award of Excellence”, The Nations’ Restaurant News “Fine Dining Hall of Fame” and an outstanding rating by the Zagat Guide.  Mr Stox grew fruit trees and fresh herbs on the premises as well as baking five kind of bread daily.

The Marshall family was active in the Community with both Ron and Chick serving for many years on the Executive Committee of the Anaheim Area Visitors and Convention Bureau and the Anaheim Chamber of Commerce.  In addition, Chick has served as president of several organizations: the Anaheim YMCA, the Anaheim – East Rotary Club, the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs – South Coast Chapter and the Anaheim Visitors and Convention Bureau.  He has been a member of the California Restaurant Association Board of Directors since 1980 and served on the DiRoNA Board of Directors since 1999, being elected its Chairman in 2005, 2014 & 2015. Chick taught Wine Education Classes at Mr Stox, Cal State Fullerton Hospitality College and at UC Irvine. 

Chick and his wife Susan live in Orange, California where they enjoy spending time with his three children and Susan’s two children as well as Chick’s six grandchildren.  They also take pleasure in reading, traveling, wine collecting, and cooking.  Chick is an avid fly fisherman, photographer, game bird hunter and golfer.