I sat down with Harry Sidhu on a quiet afternoon. He’s retired now, but his energy hasn’t faded. His story starts in India, winds through Philadelphia, and finds a home in Anaheim, California.
He told me his journey with calm honesty. No bragging. Just facts and lessons learned.
Q: You came to the U.S. with six dollars. What do you remember most about that time?
“I remember feeling excited, but also scared,” he said. “My family was already here. I was the last to come. I didn’t speak much English. I just knew I had to work hard.”
Harry moved to Philadelphia in 1974. He worked nights as a janitor at a Holiday Inn. During the day, he went to community college.
“My dad said, ‘Harry, if you want to succeed, you must study.’ So that’s what I did.”
He later earned a mechanical engineering degree from Drexel University in 1978.
Q: Was it hard balancing work and school?
“Oh yes,” he said, nodding. “I cleaned floors at night and sat in class during the day. It was very tiring. But it made me strong.”
Q: After school, you worked in engineering. How did that go?
“I worked at big companies—Amtrak, General Dynamics, Rockwell. I learned a lot. But one day, I was asked to move out of California. I said no.”
He chose to stay in Southern California, where he felt at home. In 1982, he met Gin, the woman who would become his wife. They married in 1984 and started a business.
Q: Why leave engineering to run restaurants?
“I wanted freedom,” he said. “I bought one Burger King in Hacienda Heights. Then we added more. We worked hard.”
Over the years, Harry and Gin built a chain of 28 restaurants. They included Papa John’s and El Pollo Loco. Harry served on franchise boards and became known as a fair, hands-on leader.
Q: What brought you to Anaheim?
“In 1994, the Northridge earthquake hit. Our home was damaged. We moved to Anaheim Hills.”
It wasn’t long before Harry got involved in the community. A city council member encouraged him to join the Budget Commission.
Q: Why politics?
“I saw problems and wanted to help. I ran for city council in 2002 and lost. But I didn’t give up.”
In 2004, Harry ran again and won. He served on the city council for eight years. He helped launch free job fairs and health clinics. He worked with local and international groups.
Q: You became Mayor of Anaheim in 2018. What did you want to do?
“I wanted to help people. Homelessness was a big issue. My first action was opening an emergency shelter.”
He said this with quiet focus. “It wasn’t just about moving people. It was about treating them like people.”
Q: How did you handle the COVID-19 crisis?
“It was very hard. We needed fast action. We gave $70 million in aid to the community. We kept city workers on the job. We set up testing and vaccines.”
Harry leaned back and added, “I didn’t sleep much that year. But I’m proud of what we did.”
Q: What else did you focus on?
“Small businesses,” he said. “Especially Spanish-speaking owners. They are the heart of the city.”
He wanted everyone to have a chance to grow, like he did.
Q: Now that you’re retired, what do you think about your life’s journey?
“I think about that janitor job a lot,” he said. “I think about how far I’ve come. I still believe in working hard, helping others, and staying humble.”
He paused for a moment, then added, “That’s how you build a life. One step at a time.”
Harry Sidhu doesn’t talk like a politician. He talks like someone who’s been through a lot, learned from it, and stayed grounded.
His story isn’t about fame or power. It’s about sweeping floors, showing up, and giving back.
As we finished our coffee, I asked if he had one last thing to say.
He smiled and said, “Don’t be afraid to start small. That’s where the best journeys begin.”
Read more:
Coffee with Harry Sidhu: How a Janitor Became Mayor
