Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe

Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe

Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe is a restaurant located in Boston's South End that is known for serving African-American jazz musicians during the era of segregated hotels, The walls of the diner are adorned with pictures of customers ranging from Sammy Davis, Jr. to Vice President Al Gore. As a child, Sammy Davis, Jr used to tap dance in front of the restaurant for change.

Charlie's has been described as "equal parts old-school diner and neighborhood coffee shop" but among the locals, it is known for its breakfasts. It has been open since 1927 and has no bathrooms. There are only 32 seats, 13 of which lie along a counter across from wooden refrigerators purchased in 1927, used. Charlie's was open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for 32 straight years. When Charlie's finally decided to close on Sundays, nobody had a key, and one needed to be made.

Charlies's Sandwich Shoppe has won numerous awards over the years, culminating in the reception of a James Beard Award in 2005 in the category of Southern Wine & Spirits of NY America's Classics.

There is now a web-project history of the restaurant entitled Where Hash Rules. The story was written by George Aaron Cuddy; original photographs were taken by Brooke T. Wolin.

External links

• Phantom Gourmet Review
• Online Restaurant Menu