14 VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT MIKE MICALLEF If you know Mike Micallef, you’re not surprised to see him scurrying across the vast Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo grounds each year. Serving as president of Reata Restaurant, he and his staff feed hundreds of Stock Show guests daily. On the other hand, the humble and affable gentleman is also quite conspicuous as he also goes about filling volunteer roles that benefit the Stock Show’s mission. Regardless, if you know him on a personal level, it’s his devotion to the Show and the city he loves that resonates with friends and acquaintances. “I’m very fortunate,” said Micallef. “We have a great team at Reata; they run the shifts far better than I can. I really function in a business development role for Reata during the FWSSR, connecting with many of our customers who support us year round. This also allows me to float between the Reata locations and if there is an issue or problem I can jump in if something needs to be picked up or delivered. I’m always available.” Floating, picking up and delivering things between locations means lots of walking and the restauranteur with a large social media presence created a unique Stock Show contest years ago. “The idea came about because I’m always walking around the Stock Show grounds and I was interested in how many steps I took,” he said. “I created a contest where people guess how many steps I take. Whoever is the closest chooses a charity and I donate $200. Last year the donation went to the Texas German Shorthair Rescue.” MICALLEF / REATA / FWSSR BEGINNINGS Micallef’s Stock Show presence dates to 2004 when he took on important roles of various family-owned organizations which included the popular restaurant. By then Reata was already becoming a mainstay with hungry Stock Show attendees. “Reata’s Stock Show involvement really started in 2002,” said Micallef. “Our original downtown Fort Worth location was hit by a tornado in March of 2000. We were closed for 42 days and were able to reopen that location temporarily but had to relocate in 2001, leaving us without a full-service restaurant. During that time we started catering around Fort Worth and opened the first ‘Reata at the Rodeo’ at the 2002 Stock Show across from the exhibit [consumer trade show] halls. It consisted of one room that seated about 60 people, and a tent behind the hall to cook in. One of the things I’m most proud of is the great meals my team is able to turn out consistently without a kitchen.” The meager Stock Show beginning in the Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibit Hall proved to be the start of a much larger presence which Micallef personally spearheaded. “That location was so popular that we were able to expand to a second room,” he said. “We were given the opportunity to take over the Backstage Club, in the Will Rogers Coliseum, in 2008 followed by the opening of La Espuela, in the Moncrief Building, for the 2010 Stock Show.” Reata now also caters several special FWSSR events each year. 14 Fort Worth restauranteur Mike Micallef is frequently visable on the show grounds, not only working between two Reata and La Espuela Mexican restaurant locations, but as a volunteer in other areas, as well. Photo courtesy Mike Micallef
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