Sad news from the East Valley’s restaurant community: Stephanie Serrano, one of the eight siblings who own and operate Serrano’s Mexican Restaurants, passed away Thursday after a six-year battle with breast cancer. She was 65.
Just last month, Serrano’s celebrated 100 years as a family-owned business in Chandler. Stephanie’s parents, Ernie and Eva, began transitioning the business from department stores to restaurants in 1979.
Today, there are five Serrano’s restaurants in the East Valley. Stephanie Serrano (pictured in back row, second from left) ran their payroll and accounting.
She also was a co-owner of Brunchies, a popular breakfast and lunch spot in downtown Chandler that closed in 2016 after 35 years, and co-founded Salina’s, another Mexican restaurant, just outside of St. Louis.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, all Serrano’s restaurants will be closed until 4 p.m. so employees may attend the funeral.
The restaurants previously announced a ‘‘Pink Out’’ on Wednesday, Oct. 30, as part of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Anyone wearing pink will receive a free pink fried ice cream.
