Clairborne Thomasson (Photo courtesy of Bliley’s Funeral Home.)
It only took one steak to convince Claiborne Thomasson to make the leap from a career in banking to the restaurant world.
As the story goes, serendipity struck while Thomasson was on a flight back to Richmond from a job interview with a bank in North Carolina.
It was the early 90s and consolidation was rampant in the industry. Thomasson, who passed away last week on March 22, had worked his way through the Richmond finance scene with stints at investment banking firm Craigie Inc. and such big bank predecessors as Bank of Virginia, Signet, First & Merchants, Sovran and eventually Wachovia.
Thumbing through the in-flight magazine, he turned to an ad for Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and his aisle mate on the plane asked what turned out to be a fateful question, recalls Thomasson’s son-in-law, Paul Sorenson.
“They said, “’Have you ever had one of those steaks? They’re the best you ever had,’” Sorenson recounted of the tale.
Thomasson tried a Ruth’s Chris steak on a layover and his mind was made up.
“Instead of calling the bank back the next day he called Ruth (Ruth’s Chris founder Ruth Fertel) and asked her what it would take to bring a Ruth’s Chris to Richmond.”
Thomasson, known to most as Clay, opened Richmond’s first Ruth’s Chris in December 1991 on W. Huguenot Road.
The move marked a new chapter for Thomasson.
Clay didn’t stop with one restaurant, Sorenson said. Another Ruth’s Chris franchise followed in May 2005 in Virginia Beach’s Town Center. They operated through his Diversified Restaurant Management and Consulting, Inc. Both Ruth’s Chris locations remain in the family, said Sorenson, their director of operations.
Thomasson opened a few other restaurant concepts in between – including Claiborne’s in Fredericksburg – but was forced to close them during the recession, Sorenson said.
His new career path didn’t sever Thomasson’s ties to banking. He was a founding investor and director of the new Bank of Virginia when it formed in Midlothian in 2002 and sat on its board for a decade.
Bank of Virginia CEO Jack Zoeller said the restaurateur always made sure to give the bank feedback from a retail perspective.
“He described himself to me as a very demanding customer, but said ‘That’s because I love you guys,’” Zoeller said of Thomasson.
In addition to the bank’s board, Thomasson, an Emporia native, served as a director of the Chesterfield County Drug Court, a director of the Virginia War Memorial and a member of the Board of Associates of Randolph-Macon College, his alma mater.
But back at the restaurant he was in his element where his main skill set shone more in the front of the house, Sorenson said.
“We referred to it as shaking hands and kissing babies,” he said. “He was the consummate host.”
Services for Thomasson are being held today. Bliley’s Funeral Home has more information.
Clairborne Thomasson (Photo courtesy of Bliley’s Funeral Home.)
It only took one steak to convince Claiborne Thomasson to make the leap from a career in banking to the restaurant world.
As the story goes, serendipity struck while Thomasson was on a flight back to Richmond from a job interview with a bank in North Carolina.
It was the early 90s and consolidation was rampant in the industry. Thomasson, who passed away last week on March 22, had worked his way through the Richmond finance scene with stints at investment banking firm Craigie Inc. and such big bank predecessors as Bank of Virginia, Signet, First & Merchants, Sovran and eventually Wachovia.
Thumbing through the in-flight magazine, he turned to an ad for Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and his aisle mate on the plane asked what turned out to be a fateful question, recalls Thomasson’s son-in-law, Paul Sorenson.
“They said, “’Have you ever had one of those steaks? They’re the best you ever had,’” Sorenson recounted of the tale.
Thomasson tried a Ruth’s Chris steak on a layover and his mind was made up.
“Instead of calling the bank back the next day he called Ruth (Ruth’s Chris founder Ruth Fertel) and asked her what it would take to bring a Ruth’s Chris to Richmond.”
Thomasson, known to most as Clay, opened Richmond’s first Ruth’s Chris in December 1991 on W. Huguenot Road.
The move marked a new chapter for Thomasson.
Clay didn’t stop with one restaurant, Sorenson said. Another Ruth’s Chris franchise followed in May 2005 in Virginia Beach’s Town Center. They operated through his Diversified Restaurant Management and Consulting, Inc. Both Ruth’s Chris locations remain in the family, said Sorenson, their director of operations.
Thomasson opened a few other restaurant concepts in between – including Claiborne’s in Fredericksburg – but was forced to close them during the recession, Sorenson said.
His new career path didn’t sever Thomasson’s ties to banking. He was a founding investor and director of the new Bank of Virginia when it formed in Midlothian in 2002 and sat on its board for a decade.
Bank of Virginia CEO Jack Zoeller said the restaurateur always made sure to give the bank feedback from a retail perspective.
“He described himself to me as a very demanding customer, but said ‘That’s because I love you guys,’” Zoeller said of Thomasson.
In addition to the bank’s board, Thomasson, an Emporia native, served as a director of the Chesterfield County Drug Court, a director of the Virginia War Memorial and a member of the Board of Associates of Randolph-Macon College, his alma mater.
But back at the restaurant he was in his element where his main skill set shone more in the front of the house, Sorenson said.
“We referred to it as shaking hands and kissing babies,” he said. “He was the consummate host.”
Services for Thomasson are being held today. Bliley’s Funeral Home has more information.
I met Thomasson when he was attempting to open that first Ruth’s. He would come the restaurant that I managed, and wanted to know everything. He was truly excited, scared to death, open to challenges, and very respectful that he didn’t know what he didn’t know. A true gentleman.