The founders of popular chicken chain El Jannah have sold their $11m Sydney mansion, but they had to take out cash to do so.
The founders of popular chicken shop El Jannah are selling their Sydney mansion, for an estimated $11m.
Andre and Carole Estephan, who founded the popular chicken chain in 1988, have listed their two-acre, seven-bedroom home in Dural in Sydney’s northwest.
Fine dining has proven to be a successful business for the Estephans – El Jannah has grown from a humble grocery store 30 years ago to a national chain now with 50 stores across NSW, Victoria and NSW.
And the spoils of that empire are now being collected, at a price.
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![Battle of the Charcoal Chicken restaurants. South St, Granville Chicken restaurants are in a cost-cutting battle. El Jannah Lebanese Charcoal Chicken is owned by Andre and Carole Estephan.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1024 768"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
El Jannah Lebanese Charcoal Chicken Andre and Carole Estephan started their empire in 1988.
“This property has the largest and most remarkable houses in Dural. It unfolds over 1600sqm of exquisite architectural beauty and is well proportioned, featuring a marble entrance hall leading to a succession of formal and informal spaces,” the listing reads.
“From here it opens seamlessly to elaborate alfresco terraces and a wealth of lifestyle options to satisfy the wildest dreams, all set on 5 acres with stunning mountain views.”
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![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 1280 720"%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Their $11m mansion is up for sale.
However, the home’s reported asking price has dropped significantly from the $15m that was set when the Estephans listed the house nearly two years ago.
And according to PropTrack, the average price in Dural has risen more than 25 percent in that time.
The couple bought the six-bedroom home for $4.6 million in 2014.
The grounds come with a pool, championship-size tennis court, six-car garage shed and horse stables.
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The home sits on an area of over 2ha.
It was previously listed at $15m.
One of the seven bedrooms.
Aerial view of the home.
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In November last year, el Jannah was reportedly acquired by a New York private equity firm in a blockbuster deal worth around $1bn, according to the Financial Review.
The purchase of General Atlantic – best known in Australia for its investment in elderly and disabled care center Mable – marked a major push for the local hero, with ambitious plans to expand its sales area across the country and take on fast food heavyweights such as KFC and Red Rooster.
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El Jannah owners Andre and Carole Estephan outside their Newtown store.
CEO Brett Houldin declined to comment on specifics of the transaction when contacted at the time.
“I can say, however, that we are happy to find a partner that works with the Estephan family, management and our owners,” he said.
“We look forward to this next chapter in the story of El Jannah.”
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