Beefsteak Charlie's

Beefsteak Charlie'swas a well-known New York Cityrestaurantin the early 20th century, and later arestaurant chainbased in theNew York metropolitan area, which grew to over 60 locations in the early 1980s.
Charles W. Chessar was aNew York Cityrestaurateurwho was nicknamed "BeefsteakCharlie" by Howard Williams, a sports editor for theNew York Morning Telegraph.Chessar opened his first restaurant around 1910, and moved to50th StreetbetweenBroadwayandEighth Avenuein 1914, which he operated until 1934.The restaurant was filled with horse racing photographs and frequented by sports enthusiasts, and the specialty of the house was a steak sandwich.A fire in March 1933 destroyed many of the racing pictures, though some still remain in the family of the subsequent owner, William Soshnick.
After Chessar left, his namesake restaurant was owned and operated by William Soshnick, who migrated to the U.S. along with his family to avoid anti-semitic oppression inCongress Poland. Soshnick was one of five immigrant brothers that eventually owned and operated small markets, butcher shops as well as the White Rose bars in New York City. William Soshnick sold Beefsteak Charlie's upon his retirement in the late 1960s and moved toTucson, Arizona.During Soshnick's ownership the restaurant became a popular hangout for jazz musicians in the 1950s and 1960s.
The Beefsteak Charlie's restaurant chain was started in early 1976 by restaurateur Larry Ellman, whose Steak & Brew chain (part of theLongchamps organization) had filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in fall 1975:Steak & Brew, Inc., was renamed Beefsteak Charlies, Inc.,many Steak & Brew locations were converted into Beefsteak Charlie's.As the chain first filed for a trademark on the "Beefsteak Charlie's" name in March 1976, and no prior trademark existed, it appears there was no direct connection to the namesake restaurant which inspired the chain.
Beefsteak Charlie's marketing concept emphasized anall-you-can-eatsalad bar, as well as unlimited beer, wine, orsangria.Early 1980s advertising featured an actor in early 20th century dress playing the role of Beefsteak Charlie, later joined by his nephew "Beefsteak Chuck."Two of the chain's famous indulgent slogans were "I'll feed you like there's no tomorrow" and "You're gonna get spoiled."
By 1984, the chain had over 60 locations,primarily on the East Coast. Corporate owner Beefsteak Charlies, Inc., changed its name in 1985 to Lifestyle Restaurants, Inc.In August 1987, the chain was acquired by Bombay Palace Restaurants,via a merger with Lifestyle Restaurantsfor a reported $8.4 million in stock.At the time of the 1987 merger, the chain had 48 locations, but had closed 20 locations and lost $20 million since 1984.When Bombay filed for bankruptcy two years later, the chain had only 35 outlets.
In 1992, the chain was advertising its two remaining locations in Manhattan—at 51st Street and Broadway (originally the famousLindy'slocation), and at 45th Street and Eighth Avenue.In 2000, franchise restaurant operatorthe Riese Organizationconverted its 45th Street location intoJoe Franklin's Memory Lane Restaurant.A Manhattan location on Eighth Avenue at the Howard Johnson's Plaza hotel closed shortly afterSeptember 11, 2001.
Several locations remained until the early 2000s. At least as of March 2003, one "Beefsteak Charlie's" was advertised as being open inElmsford, New York,though it is unclear whether the restaurant had any connection to the prior chain, as the chain's trademarks had expired, and a new registration was filed in 2001.In 2009, a new Beefsteak Charlie's opened in theWestfield SunriseMall inNassau County, New York,which closed shortly after its opening.