Family-operated Santa Clarita Concessions is one of the oldest-operating businesses in the city. The Valley Industry Association recently recognized Santa Clarita Concessions’ 70th anniversary during an After Five Mixer at the company headquarters in Canyon Country.
According to Lisa Burke, owner of the company, her father, Gene Burke, started the business in 1955 with mobile catering trucks. The company evolved over the years, and it currently operates as a break-room services provider, offering customized refreshment solutions for businesses, including micro markets, office pantries, vending, office coffee and water filtration.
“I just feel that this is a big milestone,” Lisa Burke said during an interview at the event, “and you never know where you’re going to be tomorrow. I thought, ‘70 years — let’s celebrate.’”
Lisa Burke, who took over the company in 1995 when her dad retired, added that family members still work there. During a speech to guests at the mixer event, she talked about how her nephews play a large part in the business’ operations and how nearly every member of the family has worked at Santa Clarita Concessions “at one point or another.”
She also spoke about how surviving 70 years hasn’t been easy.
“We’ve weathered recessions, rising gas prices, inflation and, of course, COVID,” Burke said. “It’s been anything but a walk in the park. But through it all, we’ve not only survived, we’ve grown stronger … One of the real joys of living and working in Santa Clarita has been the ability to give back to the community that’s given us so much.”
VIA CEO/President Kathy Norris said a few words about Santa Clarita Concessions during the event. She went through some of the history of the company, and described how, in the 1950s, Gene Burke used to offer his catering truck services to local farming crews and to those on housing construction projects that “fueled the valley’s growth.”
Norris also spoke about how the Burke family gave back to the community. Lisa Burke’s mother, Betty Burke, was deeply involved with Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital in Valencia, while Gene Burke dedicated his efforts to College of the Canyons in Valencia.
“Together, they supported organizations, including but not limited to the Boys and Girls Club, Child and Family Center, Friends of Hart Park and the Santa Clarita Senior Center,” Norris said. “Lisa proudly continues this tradition, having served on numerous boards over the years and currently as finance chair of the College of the Canyons Foundation board.”
There to celebrate and offer certificates to Burke and Santa Clarita Concessions were Santa Clarita Councilwoman Patsy Ayala and representatives from the offices of Rep. George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce; Assemblywoman Pilar Schiavo, D-Chatsworth; and Los Angeles County 5th District Supervisor Kathryn Barger.
