Classic Boston Landmark - Charlie's Sandwich Shop - Reopens in South End



Charlie's Sandwich Shoppe, a classic Boston eatery from 1927 that closed down a year and a half ago, has just reopened under new ownership and retained its iconic name.  The new owner is restaurant owner and chef Evan Deluty of Boston

Today, a grand opening was held at the Shoppe, with a ribbon cutting with former US Ambassador and former Boston Mayor Ray Flynn along with his friend and former mayoral opponent Mel King.

Also joining the festivities were Governor Charlie Baker, Mayor Marty Walsh, State Representatives Byron Rushing and AaronMichlewitz and City Councilors President Michelle Wu, Bill Linehan and MichaelFlaherty.  

The old-fashioned diner, which had 32 seats, including 16 at the lunch counter, was a local institution back when the South End was a heavily immigrant neighborhood.  When segregation was still rife in America, Charlie's was one of the Boston restaurants that always welcomed Black jazz musicians in town for gigs.

Charlie's was originally opened by Charlie Poulous and then run for decades by the Manjourides family. 

At the ceremony, Flynn reminded the audience that iconic entertainer Sammy Davis, Jr. used to come here when he was in town, and once "danced on the sidewalk right where we are standing."  Flynn said that today's ceremony was also about "celebrating the great history of the South End and the legend of its immigrant past." 
.
Governor Baker, who left with a bag full of blueberry muffins, said, “I’m thrilled to see that you’ve retained the old name," adding, “There’s just nothing quite like having a place called Charlie’s here in Boston.”


(Posted by IrishBoston.org

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