Parent of Coco’s, El Torito Seeks Full-Time CEO

Family Restaurants Inc., owner of the Chi-Chi’s, El Torito, Coco’s and Carrow’s restaurant chains, confirmed Tuesday that it is seeking a successor to Jack Goodall as chief executive officer.

Goodall, who is chairman and CEO of both Irvine-based Family Restaurants and San Diego-based Foodmaker Inc., has been splitting his time between the two operations for the past year.

Mike Casey, Family Restaurants’ chief financial officer, said Tuesday that the company decided the CEO spot requires a full-time person. Goodall will continue as chairman, he said.

Goodall, who could not be reached for comment Tuesday, stepped into the role at Family Restaurants early in 1994 when Foodmaker bought a 39% stake in the company as part of the bankruptcy reorganization of its predecessor, Restaurant Enterprises Group. The rest of the Family Restaurants is owned by two New York investment groups.

Foodmaker, based in San Diego, is also the parent company of the Jack in the Box restaurant chain.