Co-owner of Sacramento-area Kiki’s Chicken Place restaurant chain dies from COVID-19
The co-creator and owner of Kiki’s Chicken Place, a mini-chain of restaurants in the Sacramento area, died Friday after a week-long battle with COVID-19, the business announced.
Summer Gonzalez, the co-CEO of Kiki’s Chicken Place restaurants, died early Friday morning from complications from the infectious respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
“To even conjure those words in this announcement is incredibly heartbreaking as we understand what Summer’s impact is on her family, community, and loved ones. We are truly devastated,” the business posted on its website and the Kiki’s Chicken Place Instagram page.
Gonzalez leaves behind Santiago Gonzalez, her husband of 25 years, and her children Cristian, Janae, Kiana, and Makai.
“It is without a doubt they will need all prayers, love and support during this extremely difficult time as they navigate in a world without their mother, and wife,” according to the Friday announcement.
Gonzalez worked alongside her husband to open the first Kiki’s Chicken Place restaurant in December 2015 and expand the Sacramento-based business to 12 restaurants, including locations in Elk Grove, Rocklin, Folsom and Carmichael. The chain also includes a food truck.
“It was one of the many accomplishments she grew proud of, as it was rooted by her family, and supported by her community daily,” business representatives said in the announcement.
The COVID-19 daily case rate in California is the highest it has ever been, state health officials reported Friday. The California Department of Public Health in a daily update recorded the latest seven-day average at 125 confirmed cases per 100,000 residents
The rate shot past the previous all-pandemic record of 112 per 100,000, set almost exactly one year earlier on Jan. 8, 2021.
