JOHN MORRIS - RESTAURANTEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE - FRIDAY, AUGUST 2ND 2013 @7:30 AM
Friday, August 2, 2013 at 07:30AM 
JOHN MORRIS
General Manager
McKinna's
Our August Breakfast meeting is featuring a special guest speaker Mr. John Morris restaurateur extraordinaire and a guy who can 'Dish Long Beach' better than most! He'll talk about the state of the restaurant business in town. He should know, he has a hand in McKenna's on the Bay, Legends in the Shore and give an update on the sad situation of Kelly's in Naples that PT Columnist Tim Grobaty mentioned last week. I may have missed a few as well. You just never know what he say...you just have to attend to know. Full hot buffet breakfast at the beautiful Grand Conference Center.
BIOGRAPHY
(Courtesy of the Long Beach Business Journal Dec. 4th 2012)
There's a name in this town that makes Long Beach residents, business owners and elected officials react. Like him or not, John Morris has made a dent in this community, starting with the opening of Legends Sports Bar in 1979.
After nearly a decade running a successful operation at Legends in Belmont Shore, Morris opened Mums Restaurant at 144 Pine Ave. in 1988. He served as president of the Downtown Long Beach Associates for several years, working on a revival of the main artery of downtown. In the 1990s, Morris was recognized as one of the most influential businessmen in Long Beach.
He eventually closed Mums and reopened the restaurant as Smooth's Sports Grille, bringing the sports bar concept to Pine Avenue. He closed Smooth's in 2010 and in February 2011 joined McKenna's on the Bay at Alamitos Bay Landing as its manager.
He has since become general manager and a partner in McKenna's, and this year he got re-involved with Legends Sports Bar. Morris sat down with the Business Journal to discuss his entrepreneurial ventures in Long Beach, the bumps in the road along his journey and what it's like to have his business career come full circle.
Reader Comments (2)
Hi John,
how are you we first met at Simms Cross School in1958 you lived near the Ball o' Ditton Widnes, I am not sure but you also had a friend or relation Keith O'Mally living near you he also went to America, the first thing you ever said to me was "can I fight you" that was at Simms Cross if you get this e-mail give me a reply, I live in Wales and have done for over 30 years my father was a coal miner and we live in Ditton
the last time I saw you your hair was jet black and you had a crew cut where have all those years gone? like to hear from you
Kind Regards
Ken Platt ( Platty)
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