From a Mosquito Bite to a Family Business: Pete’s Fish and Chips Marks 80 Years
Irma, the host of Arizona Barrio Stories, welcomes viewers to a unique platform dedicated to sharing history, preserving local heritage, and elevating the voices of the community. In a highly anticipated interview that she spent a year or two trying to secure, Irma finally sits down with a very special guest to discuss one of the most beloved culinary staples in the local barrios: Pete’s Fish and Chips. Pat Foster, who proudly owns and operates the legendary restaurant chain alongside her three sisters, joins the show to share the remarkable, generational story of her family's business.
Pat is a Phoenix native who grew up on Osborne Road near 44th Street. Her local roots run deep, having attended Ingleside Elementary, Arcadia High School, and East High School. In a beautiful full-circle moment that mirrors the longevity of her family's business, Pat currently lives on Osborne Road once again.
The Mosquito That Changed Arizona History
Before Pete’s Fish and Chips became an Arizona institution, the story began with Pat’s parents, Peter McLean Grant Junior and Ruth Virginia Lund. Originally from Indiana, Peter served as a commander on a PT boat in the Philippines during World War II. While deployed, he contracted malaria from a mosquito bite. Because a malaria infection stays with a person for life and can lead to dysentery, doctors advised Peter that he needed to relocate to a hot, dry climate for the sake of his long-term health. They suggested he move to either Arizona or Egypt. Joking that he did not speak Egyptian, Peter packed up his life and chose Arizona.
A Humble $900 Beginning
Peter and Ruth packed up a trailer with all their belongings and a total life savings of just $900. At the time of their long drive from Indiana to Phoenix, Ruth was pregnant with Pat's oldest sister. Originally, Peter’s plan was to settle down and become a history teacher in downtown Phoenix. However, he had previously seen fish and chip stands in Europe while traveling as an amateur golfer, and a sudden entrepreneurial notion struck him. Instead of teaching history, he decided to use his $900 to build a fish and chip stand.
On March 23, 1947—nearly 80 years ago—the very first Pete’s Fish and Chips location officially opened in a little shack located at 20th Street and Van Buren. On that first day of business, Peter made a profit of $12.00, which felt like all the money in the world to the young family. The original menu was incredibly simple and affordable:
A meal featuring a piece of fried fish resting on a bed of french fries cost only $0.35.
Customers could purchase a glass bottle of Coca-Cola for just a nickel.
The cooking setup consisted of just one small cooker inside the stand.
Drinks were served from an outside area, where customers were required to return their empty bottles when they were finished.
Building a Legacy and Overcoming Tragedy
Encouraged by that initial $12.00 success, Peter abandoned his teaching plans and became fiercely determined to turn his stand into a chain. Within that first year, he opened two more stores, hiring a couple of ladies to run them while his wife Ruth helped out. By 1949, he built the iconic South Central location. Throughout his life, Peter insisted on owning the properties where his restaurants were built—an admirable, strategic goal that has allowed the business to endure for decades.
Tragically, the family suffered a horrific loss in 1987 when Peter was murdered. He was killed by a stranger during a robbery over a coin collection. Following his devastating death, his daughters stepped up to fill his massive shoes and continue his legacy. Pat's sister, Kathy, had already been working with him for a few years, and Pat officially joined the business the exact day after he was killed. Today, the business remains entirely family-owned by Pat and her three sisters—Jenny, Babs, Kathy, and Pat. Pat and Kathy run the corporate office, while dedicated managers oversee the individual stores.
Surviving the Light Rail Construction
Today, Pete’s Fish and Chips operates 8 locations. While their biggest complaint from customers is that there aren't enough stores, Pat notes that building new locations is incredibly expensive, especially since they maintain their father's mandate to own the land.
Operating in Phoenix hasn't always been easy, particularly for the South Central store. Pat vividly recalls siding with the community and attending numerous public meetings to oppose the rapid rail expansion down Central Avenue. The area south of them on Jones Avenue was a vibrant bastion of generational Hispanic mom-and-pop businesses. While rapid rail construction typically takes two to three years, the expansion down Central Avenue and further north took an agonizing 6.5 years. Pat described the lengthy construction as a "business destroyer". While some local businesses hung on, a lot of them were lost entirely.
The Foster family knew the hardships of this construction firsthand, as their Mesa and Tempe stores had previously suffered through similar rapid rail projects. Pat noted that many in the community wanted the street to remain four lanes instead of being reduced to two. Ultimately, the light rail was built despite the opposition, and Pat observes that the trains are often running empty.
A Brand New South Central Experience
Despite the infrastructure challenges, Pete’s Fish and Chips remains heavily embedded in the South Central neighborhood, an area that has always been the heart of the business. To celebrate their upcoming 80th anniversary on March 23rd, the family is building a brand new, state-of-the-art store right across the street. Four decades ago, they proactively purchased the land at Jones and Central, knowing they would eventually build there. Because they are all working moms, it has simply taken this long to finally build it while managing and remodeling their other locations.
Pat proudly announced on their Facebook page that this new South Central location is going to be their best one yet, offering features that are entirely new for the Pete's brand.
Air-Conditioned Patio: The new store will feature an innovative patio with accordion doors. During nice weather, the doors can open to the outdoors. If the weather is inclement, hot, or cold, the doors can be closed so the patio can be comfortably air-conditioned or heated.
Drive-Through Access: For the first time, the South Central location will feature a drive-through, operating like their other modern stores. Customers will be able to enter the drive-through off both Jones Avenue and Central Avenue.
80 Years of Barrio Memories
As Pete’s Fish and Chips approaches 80 years in business, the fierce loyalty of the community remains as strong as ever. People frequently share generational stories with the family, recounting how they grew up eating there or went to school right near specific locations. Today, those same loyal customers are bringing their grandchildren to eat at Pete's. The restaurants have been the site of countless profound life events; customers have shared stories of getting proposed to right on the picnic tables, and several employees have even gotten married.
The brand has also updated its iconic merchandise offerings, moving from plastic sports cups to a $19.95 thermos that offers $1.25 refills at the stores. They regularly support the community by providing special giveaway baskets to local schools, churches, and civic groups for fundraisers. These baskets are filled with gift certificates, cups, hats, and cheese—though Pat jokes that they intentionally leave out the famous sauce.
Irma closed the inspiring interview by thanking Pat and her family for staying deeply rooted in the barrios. While many mom-and-pop shops start in the barrio and eventually leave for other areas, Pete's has remained a steadfast, supportive staple for evening and Friday night meals. As the community looks forward to the grand opening of the new South Central location next year, Arizona owes a massive culinary thank you to Peter McLean Grant Junior, his dedicated daughters, and, ironically, one fateful mosquito.
Be sure to watch the full interview on our YouTube channel, and let us know your thoughts!
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