Co-Owner, Cuisine Concepts, LLC
Partner, Goodfellow's, LLP

In 1983, John Dayton left the world of law and entered the world of cuisine. Today he is actively involved in the operation of two outstanding and innovative restaurants, a wholesale bakery, and a restaurant consulting company.

Dayton, a Minnesota native, received his early education at The Taft School in Watertown, Connecticut. He attended the University of Minnesota at Morris where he graduated in 1968 with a double major in English and Speech. Upon graduation, he joined the University of Minnesota as the Assistant Director of Admissions and taught undergraduate speech. His teaching career was interrupted in 1969 by a two-year stint in the military. That commitment completed, he returned to his position at the University of Minnesota where he began to entertain thoughts of another career direction. He entered Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock; where he was a distinguished scholar, serving as an editor of the law review and graduating third in his class. Following graduation, he remained in Texas, joining the Dallas firm of Thompson, Knight, Simmons & Bullion, where he specialized in real estate law

After seven years of active practice, Dayton resigned from the firm in December of 1982. Eleven months later, he opened Routh Street Cafe in Dallas. The restaurant's five-star rating consistently kept it on the list of the nation's premier restaurants. Dayton introduced an offspring in December of 1985 -- Baby Routh. In October 1987, Goodfellow's and Tejas restaurants, both located in Dayton's hometown of Minneapolis, were opened. These two restaurants are consistently recognized as the Twin Cities' premier dining establishments for quality food and service.

Dayton gives generously of his time and expertise to the communities that have welcomed his restaurants so graciously. He has served as Chair of the Dallas Center for the Performing Arts, an organization planning the eventual construction of a multi-purpose performing arts complex in the Dallas Arts District. He recently retired as Chairman of the Board of The Dallas Opera, having previously served two years as President. He has served as Chair of The Dallas County Youth Village, a residential treatment facility for juvenile offenders; a Trustee of the Hockaday School, the nation's largest all-girls independent school; an executive committee member of The Dallas Zoological Society; and board member of ChildCare Dallas. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of The University of Minnesota Foundation, The Taft School, Watertown, Connecticut and Eaglebrook School, Deerfield, Massachusetts.

In April of 1996, Dayton's extensive support of the arts in Dallas was recognized when he was awarded the Neiman Marcus Silver Cup Award, bestowed annually upon one man and one woman "who believe in the power and beauty of art and have given selflessly to promote the excellence and accessibility of the arts in the Dallas community."

Dayton and his wife, Arlene, reside in Dallas with their two children, Chad (University of New Hampshire Graduate) and Whitney (Colby, Class of 2001.)