Surfer Schoch Rides OC Dining Wave; She’s Citizen Liz
OC INSIDER by Rick Reiff
The Insider hears that ex-Angels ace Mark Langston is about to close on a lot at Shady Canyon, joining fellow baseball retirees Mark McGwire and Mike Witt
Surfer-restaurateur Randy Schoch has good reason to choose his old stamping ground of Orange County to launch Thaifoon, the Asian-fusion theme he wants to grow into 11 locations in two years. He says his Roy’s franchise in Fashion Island pulls in just under $6 million a year, best among 30 Roy Yamaguchi-themed restaurants nationwide. Schoch credits OCers’ affinity for things Hawaiian (“They’re more ‘Outrigger Club’ shirts in Newport than in Honolulu”) and more repeat business than at other Roy’s locations (“This is truly a large, successful neighborhood restaurant.”) Schoch plans to open a Thaifoon at Fashion Island in August, on the heels of recent openings in Scottsdale, Ariz. (his HQ city) and Irvine Spectrum. Schoch, 45, lived on Balboa Peninsula while attending Orange Coast College and bussing tables at Chanteclair. Today, his Desert Island Restau-rants have 700 employees and about $30 million in annual revenue from three Roy’s, three Ruth’s Chris steakhouses and two (so far) Thaifoons in California, Hawaii and Arizona … Psychologist-author Elizabeth (Mrs. Henry) Segerstrom has become a U.S. citizen. The former Elizabeth (nee Swiecicki) Macavoy was born and educated in Poland. In the mid-’80s she moved to New York City where, two years ago, she and the recently widowed Henry got together
The Insider heard back from Jim Slemons’ lawyer regarding the $17.8 million judgment against Slemons and three others for fraudulently hiding assets from Slemons creditor Roger Riddell. “Jim was hoodwinked,” said Joseph DuBois, asserting that his client lost four vacation homes and a commercial property to co-defendant Chuck Horning. Dubois said Slemons may not be able to afford to appeal the verdict. “He’s living on Social Security, he’s got nothing,” Dubois said of the one-time Mercedes-Benz king of Newport Beach, who sold his bankrupt dealership to Fletcher Jones in 1991
Balboa Island resident Nathanial Crosby, son of Bing Crosby and the 1981 U.S. Amateur golf champ, is pushing another line of fancy golf clubs. Crosby has been named president of Atlanta-based NEXT Technology Golf, which is launching the Magnetix Driver. Crosby previously was EVP of Orlimar Golf, where he helped roll out the TriMetal woods
Anniversary: Engineer-executive Robert Bein, 40 years with RBF Consulting, Irvine
“Six of your students know more about the Thatcher years than we remember”,Lord Cecil Parkinson, at Chapman U’s Global Citizen Gala, which capped a week of activities honoring Margaret Thatcher. The former British PM, under doctors’ orders not to travel, sent a videotaped message; former U.S. Secretary of State James Baker filled in as speaker
Two reasons to see the CHOC Follies, “The Slipper and the Surfer, An Orange County Cinderella Story,” May 17-19: The OC Performing Arts Center’s Terry Jones and EE RR as the evil stepsisters. Call (714) 532-8690.
