Maureen N. Maratita
Publisher
publisher@glimpsesofguam.com
Congratulations to David A. Alcorn — the Guam Business Magazine 2023 Executive of the Year!
When I first visited Guam in August 1993, King’s Restaurant was already an island institution.
I didn’t know that, or that Dave and Lucy Alcorn had purchased t he restaurant as part of the GFS Group.
But I do remember a number of us eating late one night at what was the original King’s on one side of the Gibson’s Department store complex (now Guam Premier Outlets). We sat in one of the now-familiar booths.
A decade later I was living in Guam, writing about King’s for Glimpses Media, and quoting Dave Alcorn. That would be the first of many stories about GFS and its upward progress.
An executive who is new to the island made the comment to me that in Guam “eating out seems to be the national pastime.”
A U.S. Foods July survey reported respondents dined out three times per month and ordered delivery more than four times per month.
Some years ago, three businesspeople in Guam told the magazine about 80% of their meals are dine-in or take out per month. One put the total at 50%. Two others said most of their lunches are eaten out during the week.
There is no better way to get to know someone than to “break bread” with them, and there is something intimate about eating together that forms a bond. Really our restaurants on-island offer good food, and something for everyone.
I still find myself eating at King’s. The booths are still there, and I recently enjoyed a breakfast meeting at the Tamuning restaurant.
As you’ll read, King’s is still an island institution, but there’s a lot more to GFS these days, as Dave has secured significant contracts both on and off-island.
Our Nominees are a group of executives whose contributions have been significant not only to their businesses, but to the islands which they support in so many ways. I hope you enjoy their stories in this magazine.
As to restaurants, throughout the islands we lost a number during the pandemic.
It’s a tough industry, since you are dependent on the whims of customers, and of course we still lack tourists — a significant part of business for most restaurants.
But we continue to report on all sorts of restaurants that open. They cater to the sophisticated pallets that welcome various cuisines, but still know the blessing of takeout and food delivery.
At the beginning of the year, there’s hope in the air, even though we know in the islands that economic recovery will be slow and hard-earned.
I wish you the best for 2024 — and expect I will see several of you soon, eating out somewhere.
Maureen N. Maratita is the publisher at Glimpses Media. Publications at Glimpses Media include the Marianas Business Journal, MBJ Life, The Real Estate Journal, Guam Business Magazine, Beach Road Magazine, Buenas and Drive Guam.
