- NEWS
- Murder defendant: 'Dating Game' proves point 13 minutes ago
- Rowdy storm moving into O.C. 28 minutes ago
- Planting starts at $1.4 million Great Park farm 25 minutes ago
- 8-vehicle crash shuts road's southbound lanes 13 minutes ago
- SPORTS
- SI exposes Winter Olympians 2 hours & 34 minutes ago
- Laker Rim Shots 2-8-10
- Sneak peek: SI swimsuit edition 2 hours & 23 minutes ago
- Angels' Shields won't be ready to start spring training
- BUSINESS
- Office romance flirts with disaster 2 hours & 25 minutes ago
- Here's why Toyota is recalling the Prius 2 hours & 45 minutes ago
- Temp work pointing to a recovery?
- $16.5M apartments sale sets record 3 hours & 42 minutes ago
- ENTERTAINMENT
- AfterWork: Hooters in Lake Forest
- Will H.B. woman be the next 'Bachelorette'? 18 minutes ago
- Ed Harris pulls us through 'Wrecks' 3 hours & 43 minutes ago
- 'Housewife' denies she has a new boyfriend
- LIFE
- Cocktail ideas for Valentine's Day 3 hours & 16 minutes ago
- Kaiser is top HMO in state ranking 31 minutes ago
- Study: Junk food ads make kids fat, not TV 42 minutes ago
- Heidi Montag surgeries hurt women, docs say
- TRAVEL
- OPINION
Marie Callender’s founder, Don Callender, dies
January 8th, 2009, 7:59 pm · 24 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
Don Callender helped turn his mom's recipes into a restaurant and pie empire
Updated 10:45 p.m. Thursday and 10:25 a.m. and 11:40 a.m. Friday to include additional comments.
Don Callender, credited with building Marie Callender’s into a Southern California pie and restaurant empire, has died.
The Desert Sun said Callender passed away Wednesday. He had a home in Indian Wells, but had recently been living in another home in Corona del Mar, according to the Sun and longtime Marie Callender’s operator Gerald Tanaka.
Tanaka said late Thursday night that “Mr. Callender was an innovator” with a passion for great food.
“He insisted on only the best ingredients,” he said.
Mission Viejo-based Marie Callender’s released this statement 11 a.m. Friday: “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Don Callender and send our thoughts and prayers to the entire Callender’s family. It was Don Callender’s passion for and inspiration from his mother’s recipes that has carried the Marie Callender’s tradition for more than 60 years and
has made it the brand that it is today.”
The company had no information on funeral services. Family members could not be reached for comment.
In 1948, Don Callender helped turn his mother Marie’s home-based bakery into a wholesale pie business. The first pie and coffee shop later opened in 1964 in Orange.
Tanaka said Callender was among the first in the industry to build restaurants via franchising. He was also responsible for introducing salad bars at Marie Callender’s — a feature that remains a key fixture at restaurants, said Tanaka, who operates five Marie Callender’s in Orange and Los Angeles counties.
Callender eventually sold the chain in the late 1980s. (More Marie Callender’s history)
“He was very proud of what he’d accomplished,” said Phil Ratner, former Chief executive of Marie Callender’s.
Ratner said he heard about Callender’s death from a radio report while driving home Thursday night. He said Callender was in his 70s when he worked with him several years ago. He called him a hard worker with a bit of a “gruff” side.
“He was 74 then, but he had the energy of a 55-year-old,” said Ratner, who now operates two Five Guys Burgers in Southern California.
Marie Callender’s operates 92 company and 42 franchised restaurants, according to Perkins & Marie Callender’s Inc. The parent firm is majority-owned by an affiliate of Castle Harlan, Inc., a New York-based investment firm.
Reader Comments
Comments are encouraged, but you must follow our User Agreement.- Keep it civil and stay on topic.
- No profanity, vulgarity, racial slurs or personal attacks.
- People who harass others or joke about tragedies will be blocked.
24 Comments
Leave a Reply
-
ADVERTISEMENT
-
Restaurants Out of Business
The recession is forcing many Orange County restaurants to shutter, and we're trying to track them all for you. Check out our O.C. Restaurant Closure List for the latest updates. -
-
-
Report: Restaurants on Twitter
Special report: Restaurants are jumping on the Social Media bandwagon. But is Eating and Tweeting luring diners? READ FULL STORY
- How Twitter-savvy are chains? CLICK HERE to see how the Fast Food Maven rates local and national chains on Twitter.
-
Preview: Seasons 52 and Capital Grille
Slide show exclusive: Preview South Coast Plaza's two new sister restaurants -- Seasons 52 and Capital Grille. Both Darden-owned chains will replace later this year the space once occupied by The Clubhouse. -
-
O.C. Frozen Yogurt Shops
-
Contact the Fast Food Maven
Follow the Fast Food Maven on Twitter or 'Friend Me' on Facebook.
Send tips reviews, gripes to nluna@ocregister.com
Nancy Luna, the Fast Food Maven
The Orange County Register
625 N. Grand Ave.
Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626
-
-
-
-
-
16th annual People's Choice
From your favorite restaurants and shops to the best day spa in town, here are your choices for the number one places to eat, shop and play in O.C.
Browse the 2009 Best of Orange County winners -
ADVERTISEMENT
Don Callender was one of the most generous, kind-hearted, real people I have ever known. He was an amazing father and man. The world has lost a tremendous individual. Heaven will be blessed.
Mr. Callender, thank you for all the fond memories your pie gave my family and friends. My Condolences to your family.
Thank You, Jojo
Had to give a “Shout Out for Long Beach, CA) on correction of this story. Maybe O.C. was the first restaurant built and opened, but Long Beach was start of her and her family’s begining. (history archives) this was the original name of her bakery before the restaurants.
1948: All-American Pie
Marie Callender’s was founded in Long Beach, California, in 1948 when Marie Callender was encouraged by husband, Cal, and son, Don, to pursue the American dream and roll her prodigious pie-making skills into profits.
Marie was a South Dakota native who had moved to southern California and married at the age of 17. She worked in the food service industry at a delicatessen prior to making the decision to sell the family car for $700, using the funds to rent a converted World War II Quonset hut that would become the site of the first Marie Callender’s bakery.
The remaining cash funded a down payment on a small oven, refrigerator, rolling pin, and various baking utensils. Marie was soon in business, baking whole pies for wholesale customers. Seats were removed from a 1936 Ford sedan to make room for the stacks of pies that would be delivered to local restaurants.
All three family members worked 13-hour shifts once orders that originally numbered ten per day soon swelled to 40 per day–and within two years, the business had grown to 200 pie requests per day, a volume which necessitated the purchase of a truck and a mixer.
Fifteen years later, the business had grown substantially to the extent that several thousand pies per day were created for several restaurants. Although production had grown considerably by 1963, profits were less than desirable, prompting Don Callender to begin formulating plans for the construction of a retail pie and coffee shop in Orange, California.
In that same year the company incorporated and was renamed Marie Callender’s Pie Shop, Inc. The retail business at that time sold only whole pies that were made fresh daily, priced at 95 cents apiece. By offering free slices of pie and coffee the new restaurant enticed many new customers.
The Marie Callender’s formula proved so successful that soon a second small retail shop was opened in La Habra, then another in Anaheim, California
Forgot to mention that I met Mr. Callender, as his company’s jet airplane was based at the Long Beach Airport, he seem to be a very nice man. sympathy to the family
I worked with Don Callender for several years at his restaurant in Newport. Like everybody, he had his faults, but overall a pretty decent guy who took care of his employees.
My condolences to Cathy, Katie, Lucky, and all his friends and family. I’ll always have fond memories of working there.
Dude, great pies!! You will be missed!
Don Callendar was a warm, loving, and sincere man. He had an amazing personal Christian faith as well. Although a bit gruff, he always treated his coworkers with respect and sincerity. The Callendar legacy lives on through their restaurants, which are excellent and affordable. My favorite locations are Anaheim Hills on La Palma and Imperial, and Orange off Katella.
Good food, good people. Thanks.
Marie Callender’s turned in to a huge success. Don had allot of help along the way. With a great concept, lots of hard working people with their own great creations and ideas Made Marie’s what it is today.
So let’s thank all the people that still continue to serve excellent pies and food today.
My condolences to Cathy, Glen, Katie and Lucky.
I worked with Don Callender for many years and consider him to have not only a great boss, but a close and personal friend. He will be greatly missed, and the news brings much sadness.
Don, was a mentor to many, he was a perfectionist in all that he did. His knowlege of the food industry surpassed most. He will be remembered fondly by myself and many other lives he had touched.
I owe all of my abilities and business ventures to Don. He taught me how to take risk, how to manage people, open restaurants, work hard and move forward.
Don’s work ethics were the greatest I’ve ever known. He leaves behind a most inspiring legacy. He not only owned and operated a restarunt empire, but he was responsible for the teaching of many who followed in his footsteps.
There was no other boss quiet like Don Callender-one of the most generous leaders ever. He took great care of his management and employees. Any one who ever worked for him, was a very fortunate person.
To have known him, and loved him was a wonderful Blessing. To his family, I Bill Wagner send my condolences.
Don was a class act and many in our bus. cannot hold a candle to this man. He was always great to work with and and to deal with, we meet many times in his office which was the corner booth on Newport Blvd with a phone, a man that new what he wanted and treated you like a person that he wanted to work with.
I pray for his family and wish them God’s comfort that only he can give and this industry will miss my friend Don… Rest in peace. Bob Owen
Our Family expresses Condolences to the Callender Family as well.
Cathy, Glen, Katie, Lucky. We feel. The opportunities were given,we took them and enjoyed great success to this day. My Dad was the loader of that old Ford sedan. The first manager of the first store. A perfectionist made with Don. Growing with the family and the company, we still work with the idea of perfection to the best of our ability as franchisee’s. Beach Bum Bob says it right, B. Wagner as well. Once your in your in. I’m still a pie guy, and as Don Callender would say. God Bless America.
My family and I give our deepest condolences to the Callander family. I have worked for Don indirectly for over twentyfive years. I enjoyed working in his stores more than any other restaurants out there. He kept his restaurants clean and well maintained, no matter what the cost. If he wanted it, he made it happen. I always found it a pleasure to talk to him, and he always seemed to be interested in what ever I was doing also. I’ll never forget when I hitched a ride in his jet to go do work in the El Paso MC, Don was at the controls and miscalculated the landing, we bounced about three times before he stuck in on the ground. I nearly pi$$ed my pants I was so scared. He never missed a beat, asked us if we wanted to go around and do it again. He really got a kick out of it. You couldn’t have found a more generous man. I know in my heart that Don is in a better place now, probably cookin’ up something special. Peace be with you Don. RIP.
Working for Don and Tony in the 60’s at the Orange Shop brings back many wonderful memories. My condolences to the family. Don, you helped a lot of people in your lifetime. Bless you and rest in peace now.
Don Callender was a very nice guy. Very down to earth. I am really sad to hear of his passing. He was a customer of an airport that I worked at and I dealt with him very frequently. I even got to ride in his helicopter a few times. He will be greatly missed. My sympathies go out to his family and friends.
Paul Lewis
Worked in the orange store 68 to 70 as well as two other stores. Nice guy , no one wworked harder. Quality of his product was never compromised.
A heartfelt thanks to everyone for your warm words about my Dad, Don Callender. I am trying to locate his old friends and mine, so please leave me messages here and we will try to make contact.
Coral & Glen Callender
I remember Mr DEERING, very well. In fact I think he changed my diapers; and he really was Dad’s right-hand man. I don’t want to place personal contact info on this site but please let’s figure out a way to contact each other Mr Deering.
Thanks
Coral for Glen
I would welcome making contact with family friends like Mr Deering; Beach Bum Bob; Barbara Wilder O’ Connor and any others. My wife’s the tech-geek and will be commemorating Dad at donaldcallender.com….soon and with everyone’s help.
Thanks
Glen & Coral
MY DAD WORKED FOR DON CALLENDER SINCE HE WAS 16. HE GAVE MY DAD MANY GREAT OPPORTUNITIES WHICH HELPED US GREATLY IN LIFE. DON WAS A VERY SWEET AND GENTILE MAN. I REMEMBER WHEN I WUD GO TO HIS RESTUARANT WITH MY DAD AND DON WOULD ALWAYS GREET ME WITH A HUG AND WARM SMILE. HE TAUGHT ME HOW PLAY POOL HE TAUGHT MY OLDER BROTHER HOW TO COOK. HE MADE MY DAD MANAGER OF BOTTOM GUN CAFE WHICH IS NOW CALLED P.H WOODS IN MORENO VALLEY. DON WAS ALWAYS TAKING CARE OF HIS EMPLOYEES HE LOVED MY DAD AND US VERY MUCH. WE SEND OUR HEARTS OUT TO KATHY AND HER CHILDREN. WE LOVE YOU DON NOW U ARE GETN THE REST U NEED.
So sorry to hear this news I worked for Mr Callendar in his store in Newport beach for 10 years before he sold. My heart goes out to his family in this time of loss. I have such good memories of Don and all the crew I worked with we were all like a great big family best job I ever had with kind lasting memories. Happiness to all.
Love Judy
Thanks for the memories!
I am truley saddend by the news of his death and can only say that I owe everything thing I have to him and his family for what I have today. Kathy walked into my sign studio years ago and handed me a set of plans that would turn out to be my carear for the next 15 years. I worked closley with Don,Kathy and Patti for years helping them to create the dream he had. Seeing him work on some project in the middle of the night he could have hired anyone else to do , or flying in his jet going to look at his new gulf stream in texas .I can’t Imagine a more down to earth guy.By the way we when out for BarBeque after.Without The Callenders I am not sure where I would be now.
Don you will be missed !!
Roderick
WOW! Just ate a M.C. Razzelberry pie from walmart…..man that was good! My dad first turned me on to M.C. over 30 yrs ago when we lived in Downey..ca. Top notch products whatever they happen to be. God bless the Callender family. ..Robert Collins , Camanche, Iowa