Rhode Island-born Chris Tomasso has called the Tampa Bay area—specifically Sarasota—home since he was nine. After college, his career took him to Orlando and Nashville before bringing him back in 2006 to join First Watch. Today, he leads the company as CEO and President, helping shape everything from the guest experience and restaurant design to the broader vision and story of the brand.
My first job was as a dishwasher at my uncle’s Italian restaurant in Sarasota when I was 14, and I later worked at a few other restaurants in town. Working in restaurants as a teenager set the foundation for a lifelong career and was formative in shaping my “and then some” philosophy: to go beyond what’s expected.
I sang in a traveling boys’ choir that was, at the time, ranked No. 3 in the world. We sang at the United Nations, the 1982 World’s Fair and in Alaska. That experience allowed me to travel the world and broaden my horizons.
As an adolescent, I was fortunate to meet a family through the boys’ choir. They always made sure I was okay and treated me like part of their family. They mean a lot to me, and I’m still in touch with them.
Inspired by several years working through school as a lab tech making eyeglasses at Visionworks, I had dreams of becoming an optometrist. The industry was changing, and the optometrist I worked with—who I still see today—advised against it. When it was time to select a major at the University of Central Florida, I leaned into advertising and public relations. My degree is actually in Journalism, which surprises people.
During my time as VP of Worldwide Marketing at Hard Rock Café International, I had the opportunity to work with most major music groups of the ’80s, ’90s and early 2000s, and even executive-produced a series on VH1 and a special on MTV.
I joined First Watch in 2006, when the brand had just 58 restaurants. Today, I have the privilege of leading a very special concept and brand that’s beloved by consumers. In simple terms, I—along with our entire executive team—set the vision for our company.
First and foremost, my wife, Melissa, and her stepfather (my father-in-law)—a retired banking executive who, during the early stages of my career, was a father figure and sounding board—are my biggest supporters.
In my spare time, I enjoy being with my family, traveling and golfing. My favorite places to travel are the Lowcountry of South Carolina, Europe and New England.
We get to live where people vacation. It’s a wonderful place to raise a family. The culinary scene has really advanced. I love seeing the innovative concepts that have emerged and the long-overdue recognition the area is receiving. We’re fortunate to have so many talented chefs and restaurateurs call Tampa Bay home.
My “perfect” day would be waking up with both of my adult kids at our home in South Carolina, spending the day as a family playing pickleball, grilling out and playing board games. We’d end the day making s’mores.
My most surprising hobby or skill is trivia. I was almost on “Jeopardy!”, but world events had different plans.
My greatest extravagance is watches. I purchase luxury timepieces at significant milestones in my life and catalogue each one, so that when I pass them onto my son, he knows the significance that each one represents.
If I could wake up tomorrow with a new skill, it would be photography—and shaving 20 strokes off my golf game.
I want my legacy to be that I’ve made a positive impact on others, whether it be family, friends or business. I want to leave anyone I’ve interacted with in a better place than where I found them.
This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
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