Sean McGranaghan, incoming president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, has died at 48

Sean McGranaghan, 48, died unexpectedly on Wednesday, Dec. 25, four weeks short of being installed as the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association’s Philadelphia chapter’s next president.

He had served as the association’s vice president and on the Manayunk Development Corporation’s board of directors. Instead of celebrating his induction, the PRLA will now be celebrating his life at the scheduled event at Yards Brewery on Jan. 21.

In July 2023, Mr. McGranaghan wrote an opinion piece for the Philadelphia Citizen about why the tipped wage is essential to restaurant owners and employees, emphasizing that the flexibility of the model is a bipartisan issue that must be preserved. He argued that it increases opportunities and take-home pay for workers during an unprecedented workforce shortage in the hospitality industry.

Mr. McGranaghan had worked with Winnie’s Manayunk for the last three years and was also set to step into the role of partner in the restaurant.

Founder Winnie Clowry, his close friend, said in a statement, “During this difficult time, our priority remains supporting Sean’s family, the local hospitality community and the Winnie’s Manayunk team as we all navigate this devastating loss. We ask for understanding, patience, grace and privacy as we collaboratively work through this period of grief and transition.”

A long-time restaurant industry vet, Mr. McGranaghan started his career in restaurants as a bouncer at the bar Finnigan’s Wake. After graduating from college, he became a bar manager, and opened a Finnigan’s Wake in Pittsburgh. When he returned to Philadelphia, he opened his own restaurant, Thumper’s East Falls Grill, which closed after a year. He has also worked as a restaurant manager in Hollywood, Fla., Trenton, and multiple locations of Chickie’s and Pete’s in Philadelphia.

Mr. McGranaghan is survived by his brother, Chris McGranaghan, sister-in-law, Danielle Cook, aunt and uncle Patrica and John Lutz, uncles Robert McGranaghan and Jim Beck, and aunt Ronnie McGuire. He had numerous cousins he loved, yet did not define family as blood. He had a large number of people who were close friends he referred to as his family.

Services will be held on Jan. 6, 2025, from 10 a.m. to noon at McCafferty Funeral Home (6709-11 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia). There will be a prayer service at noon at the funeral home, followed by a celebration of life luncheon at Winnie’s, Manayunk.

A private interment ceremony will take place at Resurrection Cemetery in Bensalem, where he will be buried with his mother, Eileen McGranaghan, who preceded him in death.

The headline of the article has been updated to reflect Mr. McGranaghan’s incoming position was with the Philadelphia chapter of the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association.