Peruvian Chicken Restaurant Opening In Anne Arundel, Replacing Wendy's: Reports

ANNAPOLIS, MD — A Peruvian restaurant will open in Annapolis, marking its second Anne Arundel County location.

Sardi's Peruvian Chicken recently bought the former Wendy's building at 153 Defense Highway for $2.5 million, multiple reports said.

The news was confirmed by Eye On Annapolis, citybiz, WMAR, The Daily Record, the Baltimore Business Journal and The Capital with the first reports emerging last Thursday.

Most sources said Sardi's plans to open next year, but The Capital reported that the restaurant is targeting a 2026 opening.

Eye On Annapolis said Sardi's was founded in 2008 and is headquartered in Clinton, Prince George's County.

Cousins Phil E. Sardelis and Phil G. Sardelis founded the chain, bringing charbroiled chicken and Latin specialties to the Mid-Atlantic.

"[They] dreamt of a place to bring their families, to enjoy fresh food and fun together," the Sardi's website said. "Their idea of mixing bold ideas, rich Peruvian flavors, and fresh ingredients kept them awake at night. Today, their dream is a reality where millions of customers are served every year with flavorful, quality, authentic Peruvian cuisine."

Sardi's currently has 13 Maryland locations, including one in Glen Burnie. The chain also has a restaurant in Pennsylvania and another in Virginia.

Related: Former Wendy's Building Sold For Millions In Annapolis: Realtors

Hyatt Commercial Real Estate on Oct. 1 announced that the Annapolis property sold for $1,072 per square foot.

“This transaction highlights the continued appetite for well-located and favorably zoned property in Anne Arundel County. Our highly targeted marketing process generated over a dozen offers, ultimately landing north of $1,000 per square foot—a clear indication of the market’s strength,” Hyatt's John Gallagher said in the press release.

The 2,332-square-foot restaurant with a drive-thru has been closed since at least April 14 when Patch visited the property. Even then, the eatery looked long closed with all Wendy's branding removed and the inside nearly empty. Google Maps images from July 2023 show the building without any Wendy's signage.

The C4-zoned property sits next to Home Depot. It's directly across from the Gateway Village shopping center, which is home to Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Safeway, PetSmart and Orange Theory Fitness.

“Annapolis has long been a high barrier-to-entry market. The second-generation infrastructure, combined with an existing drive-thru, made this an attractive opportunity for buyers,” Hyatt's Eddie Trujillo said in the release.

Gallagher and Trujillo represented the seller. Bryan Herr of MacKenzie Commercial Real Estate Services represented the buyer.

“Defense Highway is an extremely vibrant retail corridor surrounded by dense residential neighborhoods, and this site represents the ideal location to introduce Sardi’s Peruvian Chicken to the greater Annapolis-area community,” Herr said, according to citybiz. “Transitioning the building to the new restaurant format will be facilitated by its former restaurant use, and the availability of a drive-through window is a significant amenity which is extremely popular among consumers. The free-standing building’s strategic positioning overlooking a major roadway and adjacent to retail power center are additional advantages that will benefit this use. The buyer acted quickly and decisively to purchase this asset at below replacement cost.”

Visit sardischicken.com to learn more about the company.