LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION honoring Charlie Sahadi upon the occasion of his
designation as recipient of the inaugural Atlantic Avenue Ambassador
Award by the Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to publicly recognize
those extraordinary individuals who have made contributions to the
success and progress of society in the course of their life's work; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Charlie Sahadi
upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the inaugural
Atlantic Avenue Ambassador Award by the Atlantic Avenue Local Develop-
ment Corporation on Tuesday, September 27, 2011, at the Roulette Theater
in Brooklyn, New York; and
WHEREAS, The Atlantic Avenue Local Development Corporation (AALDC), a
leader in the economic development of historic downtown Brooklyn,
announces The First Annual Atlantic Avenue Ambassador Award, recognizing
an exceptional community or business person who has made outstanding
contributions to the economic and cultural development of Atlantic
Avenue from the East River to Flatbush Avenue; and
WHEREAS, The 2011 inaugural Award recipient is Charlie Sahadi, CEO of
Sahadi's, a national wholesale and local retail specialty foods opera-
tion established on Brooklyn's Atlantic Avenue in 1948 by Mr. Sahadi's
family; and
WHEREAS, The son of Wade and Najila Sahadi, Charlie Sahadi is proud to
be born and raised in Brooklyn; also proud of their Lebanese heritage,
the family established Sahadi Importing Company in 1941 in New York and
moved to its Brooklyn home on Atlantic Avenue in 1948; and
WHEREAS, After attending Pace College, Charlie Sahadi joined his fami-
ly at the store on Atlantic Avenue in 1963; currently a third generation
who is an integral part of Sahadi's wholesale in Sunset Park and at the
quintessential family business on Atlantic Avenue; and
WHEREAS, In 2003, Charlie Sahadi was named on Crain's New York list of
the 100 Most Powerful Minority Business Leaders; in addition, he was the
recipient of the Brooklyn Heights Community Service Award and of the
Lebanese Heritage Day Award; and
WHEREAS, A member of the Advisory Board of the Atlantic Avenue Better-
ment Association, Charlie Sahadi has helped to make Brooklyn an interna-
tional destination and has represented the community as both a cultural
and business leader; through his vision and hard work, Sahadi's has
become not only a major wholesaler with international influence, but
also a top retail hub for other local businesses to expand off of; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the life in their community and have shown a long and sustained
commitment to excellence certainly have earned recognition and applause;
now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
honor Charlie Sahadi upon the occasion of his designation as recipient
of the inaugural Atlantic Avenue Ambassador Award by the Atlantic Avenue
Local Development Corporation; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Charlie Sahadi, CEO of Sahadi's.