Atlantic City Weekly

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Charlie's of Somers Point

Serving the Shore since '44

By Ray Schweibert

CAP:�Loyal staffers: Mary Shelton, Jeff Thomas, Jessie Marienski, Joann Antolini and Sara Cochrane. --> SOMERS POINT'S FORMER City Hall building, now a library and a registered U.S. historic landmark, is situated directly across Shore Road from what many longtime area residents consider an historic landmark in its own right — Charlie's Bar and Restaurant.

The namesake of the late Charlie Thomas, who founded the business in 1944, Charlie's is now run by his great grandsons Jim, 27, and Jeff, 30, who took over when their parents, Jack and Leslie, retired and moved to Florida. It has continued to thrive despite increased competition in nearby towns like Atlantic City, and despite heightened property values that seem to have spawned a trend in transient home ownership.

"The area's changed a lot over the years, but for the most part it's gotten more exciting," says Jim Thomas. "There's more flavor.

"We do our best business in the summer, obviously, but our winter business has actually grown more lucrative since the revitalization of A.C. We still get a lot of our regulars and people coming over from Ocean City, but we've also been able to rely on a lot of the A.C. residents migrating over here occasionally.

"The more built up they get over there, the more business we seem to get over here," he adds. "And I guess sometimes people just get tired of the casinos and start looking around."

The exterior of Charlie's looks very similar to how it did decades ago, as is the case with the other two affiliates in what locals often refer to as the Beermuda Triangle — Charlie's, Gregory's and the Anchorage. All three have peacefully coexisted for decades, and all are just a short walk from one another.

Inside, Charlie's has received a major makeover. The kitchen is huge and gleaming, and the main bar, accessed off Shore Road, is separated from a smaller bar, accessed off adjacent New Jersey Avenue, by a large dining room. The dining room and the small bar, named Captain Jack's, were once a barbershop that was purchased and revamped about 15 years ago.

Jack Thomas and his three sons (the eldest of whom, J.R., 32, works outside of the family business) all graduated from Mainland Regional High School, where Jack's charitable contributions got him inducted into the MRHS Hall of Fame.

"My dad's always been a low-key donor to almost any worthy cause," says Jim. "Some nights I find out what he does from people who come in here and I'm amazed. He just does it out of the goodness of his heart. It's a lot to live up to."

Sports memorabilia is prevalent throughout Charlie's main bar area, including signed sports jerseys on the wall of a cubicle housing a pool table. A large chalkboard is used to log the tournament results of Charlie's Fishing Club, established in 1988 in memory of the founder and including over 120 members. There are two 50-inch, high-definition plasma TVs in the main bar area, and a 42-incher in the back bar area, which has more of a nautical look. Another cool component is an online jukebox, capable of tracking down nearly every song known to mankind and rigged into a high-tech Bose sound system.

Like its scores of loyal clientele, Charlie's has had several long-tenured employees. Wes Moore has manned the bar for 28 years, and general manager Lisa Mell and bartender Ray Smith have been with the establishment 24 and 16 years, respectively. Stan Lukasiewicz bartended for Charlie Thomas prior to joining the Somers Point Police Department, then returned in a part-time capacity after retiring from a 20-year career on the force. He has been part of Charlie's history through all four generations of ownership.

Charlie's expansive menu includes Wes's Special Sandwich, made of filet mignon and provolone on a garlic Kaiser roll, and features daily early-bird specials (3-6pm) priced at $12.95 and served with many accoutrements.

Every night different drinks and bar food are discounted. Mondays, for instance, are "Yuengs and Wings" night, where Yuengling Lager bottles are $2 and wings are 25 cents each, and Southwest Wednesdays offer $2 Margaritas and specials on chili, tacos and fajitas.

"We're always changing the menu and there are different specials every night," says Jim, adding that the homemade crab cakes, prime rib and wings are among the favorites.

Summer may be the Beermuda Triangle's busiest time of year, but there is plenty on tap for this spring. Charlie's has special events planned for the NCAA "March Madness" basketball tournament, Easter and the Somers Point Bayfest in April, and for Mother's Day and an annual beneficiary golf tournament at Greate Bay County Club in May.

"There's something going on around here all the time," says Jim.