Gallagher honored as Roblan of the Year; Grace & Rose Restaurant wins Beautification Award

By Camille DeVaul · Wed Mar 04 2026

Chamber of Commerce celebrates community leaders and local businesses at sold-out 'Luminaries' gala

PASO ROBLES — Community members, local business owners, and families dressed to the nines gathered at Rava Wines on Saturday, Feb. 28, to celebrate the 2026 Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce award recipients. The evening recognized Jeff Gallagher as Roblan of the Year and honored Grace & Rose Restaurant with the Beautification Award.

Interim CEO of the Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce Robert Covarrubias encouraged the crowd to get involved with the Chamber, and one of those ways is to become a part of the ambassador group.

In October 2025, the Chamber announced a leadership transition following the resignation of President and CEO Gina Fitzpatrick, who stepped down after 10 years of dedicated service to pursue a new career and spend more time with family.

The sold-out evening, given the theme "Luminaries: Lighting the Path Ahead," was to reflect the transitional period the Chamber is entering. The night also included a live and silent auction.

"I want 500 people in this room every single year," Covarrubias said. "Every single year, because then that means we can support business, advocate, promote, educate. That's what the chamber wants to do for you, but it doesn't come free."

The new 2026 Board of Directors was ushered in as well. They include Dixon Mann, Rich Clayton, Tracy B. Ritchey, Jennifer Acevedo, Jakee Arellano, Henry Elisarraraz, Melanie Greer, Meghan Harris, Marci Miller, Julie Richardson, Maria Madrid-Sabi, Mark Willey, John Donaldson, Kristen Palera, Alison Shannon, Dr. James Brescia, Jennifer Loftus, Donica Forensich, Tyson Hayward, Diane Zannotti, and Denise Espinola.

A remembrance video was played towards the end of the night to honor the late Norma Moye, who passed away on Monday, Dec. 15, 2025. Moye was an important figure and leader in small-town business in Paso Robles and served as the executive director of the Paso Robles Main Street Association.

Jeff Gallagher has been named the 2026 Roblan of the Year, recognizing decades of dedication to Paso Robles through business, mentorship, and community service.

With local roots dating back to the 1970s, Gallagher built his concrete and demolition company in the mid-1990s and has left a visible mark on schools, wineries, breweries, and businesses throughout North County, including his role in building out Cal Coast Beer Company. Beyond his professional work, he founded the Ron Gallagher Memorial Golf Tournament 23 years ago to honor his late father, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for Paso Robles High School’s SkillsUSA programs. Now mentoring his son to take over the family business, Gallagher remains committed to strengthening the community he proudly calls home.

"I love Paso Robles. If it wasn't for my dad, seeing it, since he was a little kid ... he knew this was a special place, and I'll tell you what, I'm proud to have my family be raised here in Paso Robles," Gallagher shared.

The Paso Robles & Templeton Chamber of Commerce has named Grace & Rose Restaurant the recipient of its 2026 Beautification of the Year Award, honoring the thoughtful transformation of a once-neglected historic home into a vibrant downtown gathering place. Owned by husband-and-wife team Justin and Julie Fischer, the restaurant preserves the building’s original charm while introducing welcoming features like a wraparound porch, vintage décor, and locally sourced design elements.

Paso Robles Wine Country Alliance Executive Director Joel Peterson introduced the Fischers to the stage, saying, "What Justin and Julie really created is something special, more than a beautiful space. They created a place for connection, where neighbors and visitors and farmers and winemakers could get together around a table and share a meal, open a great bottle of Paso wine, and make memories."

Despite unexpected challenges — including the safe relocation of a decade-old bee colony discovered during renovations — the project reflects a deep commitment to historic preservation, community connection, and supporting Paso Robles’ culinary and wine culture.

"What we love most about this community is how it shows up for small businesses like ours and everybody else in this community today," Justin said, thanking everyone for the honor.

Julie shared, "It's more than just a restaurant to us, and we are honored to continue this home's legacy in Paso Robles. The reason why we're doing this is because we realize, more than ever, the importance of bringing people together, like, tonight, what we're doing in this room, bringing people together over a shared meal and a glass of wine, is, we see the importance of that celebrating our local farmers and wineries through our menu, sharing their stories, and offering a space for people to gather and connect with each other."

You can learn more about the Roblan of the Year and Beautification of the Year winners at pasoroblespress.com

Feature Image: Roblan of the Year Jeff Gallagher (left photo, third from left) and Justin and Julie Fisher (right photo, third and fourth from left). Photo by Camille DeVaul/PRP