Charleys Philly Steaks may have 600 plus locations around the globe, but the Columbus-based brand continues to innovate within its home city.
Charleys opened its first store constructed of shipping containers at 3849 E. Broad St. in Whitehall. With a three-container footprint, the location includes a small ordering area with a few stools for patrons, a larger kitchen, and a drive-thru.
Senior Marketing Coordinator Maggie Mackie says the eatery saw other brands like Starbucks building locations out of shipping containers and Charleys wanted to try something similar. The smaller-footprint stores can be built off-site and transported to the final location. Mackie says depending on how well the concept does, there could be more shipping container Charleys in the brand’s future.
Shipping container projects have garnered a lot of interest in Columbus over the last handful of years, but have been slow to materialize. However, there are two other shipping container eateries in the city – Mikey’s Late Night Slice in the Short North and vegetarian soul food restaurant Willowbeez SoulVeg which is part of Maroon Arts Group’s Movement Pursuing Arts, Commerce & Community space.
The Whitehall Charleys features an expanded menu that the brand debuted in 2017 which includes boneless and traditional wings. The wings are currently only available at a handful of locations, but will be a big part of the future of the brand.
Charleys will be open from 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. – 10:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and from 11a.m. – 9 p.m. on Sunday.
For more information, visit charleys.com.
All photos by Susan Post