Sardi’s Restaurants Close Wednesday to Honor Late Founder
All Sardi’s Chicken locations closed Wednesday in honor of CEO and co-founder Philip Sardelis, who died from complications developed from having COVID-19.
Sardelis, 48, lived in Derwood. He founded the Peruvian chicken chain with his cousin, also named Philip Sardelis. Family was the single most important thing in his cousin’s life, Sardelis told MyMCM. He leaves behind his wife, Lisette, and four children, Marcel, 28, Michael, 19, Georgie, 12, and Nefeli, 10.
Sardelis urges people to get vaccinated and do their part.
“No one needs to feel this pain. No one. So we’re asking everybody to get vaccinated, everyone wear their mask. Everyone understand that it’s real. COVID is real. And we ask that everybody do their part in order for, [so] other families don’t have to suffer like this,” Sardelis said.
Co-Founder of Sardi’s Chicken Loses Battle with COVID-19
Philip Sardelis, who together with his first cousin also named Philip Sardelis and who co-founded and owned Sardi’s Chicken, died from complications he developed from having COVID-19. He was 48 years old.
The Derwood resident leaves behind his wife, Lisette, and four children, Marcel, 28, Michael, 19, Georgie, 12, and Nefeli, 10.
Although they are Greek, the cousins opted to start a Peruvian chicken restaurant partly because they realized there was a market for Peruvian food. They traveled to Peru to bring over a few chefs, his cousin said.
The first Sardi’s opened in Beltsville in the summer of 2008. They currently have 14, three of which are in Montgomery County. They are located at 430 N Frederick Ave. in Gaithersburg, 3418 Olney Laytonsville Rd. in Olney and 1159 University Blvd. East in Takoma Park.