Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe |
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The exterior of the restaurant
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| Coordinates | 42°20′41″N 71°04′40″W / 42.3448°N 71.0778°W |
Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe is a famous restaurant located in Boston's South End. It's well-known for its delicious breakfasts and for being a welcoming spot for everyone. This was especially true for African-American jazz musicians during a time when many hotels had rules that kept Black people from staying there.
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Discovering Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe
This historic diner has been serving tasty food since 1927. It's a small place with only 32 seats. Thirteen of these seats are along a counter. They are right across from old wooden refrigerators that have been there since the restaurant first opened! For 32 years, Charlie's was open all day, every day, without closing. When they finally decided to close on Sundays, they even had to make a new key because they didn't have one!
A Place for Famous Faces
The walls at Charlie's are like a photo album of famous visitors. You can see pictures of legendary jazz musicians like Sammy Davis, Jr., Duke Ellington, and Cab Calloway. Even important political figures like Vice President Al Gore, President Barack Obama, and Governor Deval Patrick have eaten here. When he was a child, Sammy Davis, Jr. used to tap dance outside the restaurant to earn some change!
A Historic Union Hall
The floor right above Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe was once a meeting place for the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters. This was the first union for Black porters, who worked on trains. It was started by a leader named A. Philip Randolph.
Awards and Recognition
Charlie's has won many awards over the years. One of its biggest honors was receiving a James Beard Foundation Award in 2005. This award is like an Oscar for restaurants, recognizing them as "America's Classics." There's also a special online project called Where Hash Rules that tells the restaurant's history.
The Story Continues
On May 12, 2014, Charlie's announced it would close in June after 87 years. But the story didn't end there! On August 5, 2014, a local restaurant owner named Evan Deluty announced he would reopen Charlie's. He promised to keep the popular breakfast and lunch menus the same. He also added a new dinner menu and longer hours. A newly updated Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe officially reopened on January 22, 2016.
