Charlie's Restaurant Approaches First Birthday

Opening any business is a gamble, but when it succeeds, that makes it all the more satisfying.

Charlie’s restaurant on Harper is approaching its one-year anniversary, on June 16, to be exact.

Occupying the site of what most recently was Izzy’s -- remember the pig on the roof? -- owner Bob Markaj is determined to bring a nice family restaurant to a nice family neighborhood.

The interior is all renovated, with airy ceilings, skylights, red stained-glass accents, decor in muted browns and deep crimsons, and small lanterns floating above every booth.

In back there’s room for a party to reserve a spot, perfect for a club meeting or a birthday luncheon. A counter up front lets diners perch on a stool and enjoy a cup of coffee and a quick bite as they watch a bit of TV or chat with waitstaff, all neatly decked out in emerald green polo shirts, ready to top off that java or bring a slice of pie.

The eatery is spacious, and the menu is extensive: The type where a party of four with varying tastes could all find something to agree on, with its salads, burgers, soups (four each day), breakfasts that include crepes and Belgian waffles, ciabatta sandwiches, south of the border options, low-cal items, ribs, coneys, Greek and Italian specialties, and a whole lot more.

Portions, Markaj promises, are generous, and it’s all top quality. Choices are affordable, too. Most entrees are under $10, with the exception of ribs, seafood and steak options.

Markaj jokes of the extensiveness of the menu. “When someone new comes in, they’ll get lost in the menu,” he says, but “customer reactions (have been) very good.”

The menu, perhaps fittingly, represents a land of plenty. Markaj came to the U.S. in 1997 from Albania, after winning a visa via lottery. He came with his wife Mariana, a teacher with the Detroit Public Schools, and the couple now live in Sterling Heights with their two sons.

“This is the best country in the world,” Markaj says. He recalls being literally a hungry college student in Tirana, the capital of Albania, and now he’s a business owner. This is, in fact, his second eatery. For six years he owned a Coney restaurant in Detroit, but sold that and found the St. Clair Shores location.

So far, it’s been a lot of hard work, but definitely rewarding, he says. The city has been extremely supportive, and he’s made some improvements for the site, including adding more parking -- which had been an issue in the past -- through the purchase of a property behind the eatery. What used to harbor a mere 15 parking spaces now can accommodate more than 50 cars.

Besides civic support, the community has been embracing Charlie’s as well. (A quick piece of trivia: Charlie’s is named as a tribute to the property owner, Markaj says.)

The extensive menu, he says, is a huge part of the success. His chef, Tony Sarigiannis, Markaj says, is “the key,” has 35 years of experience, and the cooks are all seasoned as well. He credits his staff, too. “I have a good crew working for me.”

Charlie’s is located at 22315 Harper. Check out its menu online at http://www.charliesrestaurant.org or call 586-285-5381 for more information. Hours are 7 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, and 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday.