As Tony P’s Dockside Grill prepares to close at the end of June, I’ve found myself reflecting on the profound impact Tony Palermo has had on my life — not just professionally, but personally and profoundly.
I first met Tony P when I was a newly minted lawyer in the early 2000s. My wife and I were having dinner on the patio at Tony P’s — a place that would soon become like a second home — when I heard about a golf tournament hosted by the California Restaurant Association. Knowing the law firm was working at had a connection to the CRA, I decided to cold call Tony and ask if I could join.
He didn’t hesitate. “Sure,” he said warmly, “I’ll set you up with a great foursome.” That simple act of generosity sparked a friendship — and a career trajectory — that I could have never predicted. The partner he placed me with, Greg McNally, became a friend, a client, and a key connection in my journey within California’s restaurant industry. Greg and I still talk a lot and try to play together in the annual golf tournament. That was just Tony: welcoming, kind, and a connector of people.
A Mentor in Hospitality and Leadership
Tony’s influence extended far beyond that first golf tournament. In 2005, he was instrumental in encouraging me to join the California Restaurant Association Los Angeles Chapter Board of Directors. He believed in my potential when I was still finding my voice as a young attorney. And when I made the leap to start my first law firm in 2007, Tony was there with a...
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