The heartbroken mother of a popular chicken shop owner managed to find the strength to work at her son’s restaurant on the day he died.
Jimmy Sagiotis, 45, the owner of Queenscliff’s Salty Rooster in Sydney’s northern beaches, died suddenly after suffering multiple heart attacks last month.
With his fiancée Claudine, his two sons Harrison (10) and Hudson (8) and the wider community all mourning the loss of the businessman, his mother Sophia was determined to keep the burger shop running.
“She was working in the store the day he died. They still opened the store, they were still there for the people,” Sagiotis’ friend Simon Polito said news.com.au.
Jimmy Sagiotis, 45, the owner of Queenscliff’s Salty Rooster in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, died suddenly after suffering multiple heart attacks last month
“He gave his heart to everyone.”
Mr. Polito said he had been friends with the chicken shop owner for 20 years and met after he opened his first store.
“I was there every day and started with him in the morning with my bacon and egg roll, and then went to lunch, and we ended up sitting on milk crates at the front at the end of the day. to, ‘What the hell are we doing, how are we going to make it work?'” he said.
Mr Polito revealed the heartbreaking final messages they shared with Mr Sagiotis, saying he loved him like a brother.
“Everyone loved him, he never did anything wrong by anyone… you’re going to make me emotional, but that was the thing I loved most about him,” he said.
The tragedy comes after Mr Sagiotis lost his late wife Renee to an asthma attack in 2017.
The hamburger shop owner was due to marry his new partner next year, the couple had just moved in together.
Claudine now cares for Mr. Sagiotis’ young sons as well as her own two children.
The Salty Rooster family invited the community to come paddle in honor of Mr Sagiotis on October 14 at Queenscliff Beach.
“It is with the depths of our hearts that we announce the tragic passing of our beloved partner, father, son, brother and friend,” read a statement on his death.
‘Jimmy had a mini heart attack on Wednesday evening (October 5) and by the time he got to the hospital in the ambulance (with Claudine, his mother and sister, and his beautiful boys there in the hospital with him) he had more heart attacks. attacks that required serious treatment.
His mother Sophia (left) was working at her son’s restaurant the day he died
After the loss of his late wife, Jimmy found love with Claudine (pictured), who has two children from a previous relationship
‘In the end, despite the great care of the surgeons and nurses, he could not survive these attacks.
“No one could ever imagine that the light of our lives wouldn’t make it. It’s just surreal. Complete and utter shock.”
The news has devastated the local community, in which Jimmy was very active, having opened his popular burger shop in 2005.
Friends made an emotional plea for support through a GoFundMe page used to cover the costs of the October 17 funeral.
“Claudine has lost her soulmate and best friend, and the children have lost their wonderful father,” the page read.
“Life will never be the same for them, but with our support we hope they will continue to live the life Jimmy dreamed of.”
Devastated locals paid their heartfelt tributes to the late burger shop owner online.
‘VALE to this gentle soul. “Jimmy has experienced enough tragedies for any human being in his life as he became a single father caring for his two young boys and trying to run his beloved (and iconic) home in Queensie,” local MP James Griffin posted on Instagram.
‘I can’t believe it, such a shock and tragedy. A wonderful father and member of our community. I have known Jimmy, his boys and mother for many years and admire their family and values. RIP beautiful man xxxx,” said local business Beaches Healing.
Salty Rooster advertises a hamburger menu with 17 flavors “from around the world to tantalize the taste buds.”
The Hawaiian Rooster burger is a popular go-to order, consisting of grilled chicken, lettuce, tomato, cheese, grilled bacon, grilled pineapple and mayonnaise.