Member Profile
Fadi Rashed
Sam’s Family Restaurant
If you stop into “Sam’s” locations in Charlottetown or Cornwall you’ll probably be treated like an old friend.
Fadi Rashed was just a year old when his family moved to Canada from war-torn Lebanon. His father, Sam, who had previously been in the police force decided to get into the restaurant business on PEI because he could do it without having strong English-language skills. Decades later, the “Sam’s” chain of restaurants remains a favourite for many Islanders.
The Rashed’s opened Sam’s Family Restaurant on St. Peters Road in 1992. Fadi was about 16 when he started working for his family. While he later went off to pursue an education, Fadi always knew he’d return to his roots in the restaurant industry. His father had built a successful business and established a good relationship in the community and Fadi was proud to carry on his legacy.
In 2000, the Rasheds opened the “Sam’s” in Cavendish, and the Cornwall location was opened in 2012. The location in Cornwall is Fadi’s main establishment.
Fadi has learned a lot from his father over the years. Sam’s natural charm and warmth have made Fadi the success he is today. Sam taught Fadi to show every single staff member respect.
“The restaurant business can often be a thankless industry and you have to make people feel valued and appreciated no matter what job they are doing,” said Fadi. “My dad was always a good man to work for; patient and good under pressure, and I admired that.”
It’s a philosophy that seems to work well for both Sam and Fadi. They’ve had staff with them for more than ten years at both locations. They treat their employees like family and make sure they are happy to show up to work every day. It’s so important to Fadi because he believes if the staff are happy, they will care for the customers and want to make them happy too!
In 2000, the Rasheds opened the “Sam’s” in Cavendish, and the Cornwall location was opened in 2012. The location in Cornwall is Fadi’s main establishment.
Fadi has learned a lot from his father over the years. Sam’s natural charm and warmth have made Fadi the success he is today. Sam taught Fadi to show every single staff member respect.
“The restaurant business can often be a thankless industry and you have to make people feel valued and appreciated no matter what job they are doing,” said Fadi. “My dad was always a good man to work for; patient and good under pressure, and I admired that.”
It’s a philosophy that seems to work well for both Sam and Fadi. They’ve had staff with them for more than ten years at both locations. They treat their employees like family and make sure they are happy to show up to work every day. It’s so important to Fadi because he believes if the staff are happy, they will care for the customers and want to make them happy too!
