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Chickie's & Pete's facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Chickie's & Pete's
Private
Industry Restaurant
Founded 1977; 48 years ago (1977)
Founder Peter & Henrietta Ciarrocchi
Headquarters Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Number of locations
 19 (as of August 14, 2017)
Key people
 Pete Ciarrocchi, President
Products Crabs, lobster, seafood, American food, beer and liquor
Services Food and Beverage
Revenue Multi-million dollars (2011)
Owner Pete Ciarrocchi

Chickie's & Pete's is a well-known American restaurant and bar. It is privately owned and has its main office in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It started as a small local place in 1977. Over time, it became famous for its seafood, especially crabs. It grew from just one location to many places around the Philadelphia area. In 2011, ESPN even named Chickie's & Pete's the number one sports bar in North America.

The Story of Chickie's & Pete's

How It All Began

The story of Chickie's & Pete's began with Peter and Henrietta Ciarrocchi. They already owned a deli. In 1977, they bought a small local bar nearby. This bar was on Robbins Avenue in Philadelphia and was called "Wally's."

Peter made some important changes to the bar. He added stools so people could sit down. He also changed the rule that only men could enter. Most importantly, he renamed the bar after himself and his wife, Henrietta. Everyone called Henrietta "Chickie."

Growing the Business

Peter passed away in 1987. After this, Chickie encouraged their son, Pete Junior, to take over. She wanted him to try out his own ideas for the business. Pete Junior had a special idea for crab-seasoned fries, which became very popular.

In 1998, Pete Junior decided to make the business even bigger. He bought an old, empty supermarket building. This building was close to Veterans Stadium in South Philadelphia. He wanted to create a large sports bar. Being near the city's sports venues was a perfect fit for this idea.

A Special Snack

In February 2016, a company called Herr's Snacks worked with Chickie's & Pete's. They released special potato chips that tasted like Chickie's & Pete's famous Crabfries. This was a fun way for people to enjoy the flavor at home!

Where You Can Find Chickie's & Pete's

As of 2023, Chickie's & Pete's has several locations. You can find them in Philadelphia and its nearby areas in Pennsylvania and South Jersey.

Here are some of their locations:

Other Fun Facts

In 2011, Pete Junior became a part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul. This is a professional arena football team.