Cupid, Table For Two

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Workplace romances make most business owners squirm. But they don’t bother Mary Harrigan, co-owner of restaurant chain Stonefire Grill Inc.

In fact, her Westlake Village-based company supports romantic relationships among its employees. So far, Stonefire’s stance has led to 11 longstanding relationships, including that of Marc Fernandez and Alisha Wolst, who got engaged in December after working together as managers at the eatery’s Irvine location. Their wedding is set for July.

“We aren’t naïve,” Harrigan said. “On a management level, we ask they make it known up front and give us the option of what we can do with their particular situation.”

She said the fast-casual chain, which serves salads, sandwiches, pizzas and other home-style food, has adopted a philosophy that such connections are inevitable, especially since many of its workers are in their 20s. Managers aren’t allowed to date subordinates, but apart from that, love is allowed to happen.

The policy is fairly unusual. One human resources analyst said Stonefire is likely to encounter problems if a romantic relationship sours.

“I guarantee there will be a problem,” said Steve Keyzers, vice president of employer services at Newport Beach human resources firm HR Alternatives Inc. “Because as we all know, sometimes relationships don’t pan out.”

No problems so far, Harrigan said. She started Stonefire with her sister in 2000 with a restaurant in Valencia. Since then, the chain has grown to seven establishments throughout Southern California, employing nearly 700.

And as Stonefire has matured, so have some of its employee couples.

Will and Tanya Alcala started dating in 2000, when they began working as managers at the Valencia location. On their wedding day in 2002, the restaurant closed early so employees could attend the ceremony. They now have two young girls.

“In the workplace, you aren’t supposed to be in a relationship because it can cause problems,” said Tanya Alcala, who manages the Valencia location (her husband now works at the West Hills restaurant). “But they were very supportive in the decision that we made.”

Stonefire plans to continue accommodating love birds, including Fernandez and Wolst. In fact, the company will cater the wedding.

“It’s all been a really happy situation,” Harrigan said.

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