Good Time Charley's in Kingston To Join a Steakhouse Chain

Candace Braun

Good Time Charley's, located on Route 27 in Kingston, will soon be turned over to Charlie Brown's Steakhouse, an area chain restaurant. While Charley's owner, Merrill Zinder, is unsure of the exact date that the restaurant's ownership will change, it is expected to happen within the next few weeks.

Good Time Charley's employees, of which there are now 75, will most likely remain once the ownership changes, said Mr. Zinder: "[The broker] told me that they're going to keep the staff."

Any parties that have previously been booked with Good Time Charley's will be honored, along with the menu and prices that were promised, said the owner.

Once building permits go through, the restaurant's new owner "will be making some changes," said Mr. Zinder. "It will still run as Good Time Charley's until it's remodelled," he added.

Although unaware how long remodelling will take, Mr. Zinder said that the restaurant will keep its menu and prices until the work is complete. The restaurant will stay open during remodelling, as a crew will be coming in to work on the facility between midnight and 10 a.m., said the owner.

"They will definitely not close," he said.

After meeting with representatives from Charlie Brown's on Friday, Mr. Zinder said that his restaurant will become the biggest of all of the Charlie Brown chains, and will have the biggest banquet facility.

Charley's grill bar, which seats approximately 45 customers, will stay as is, said Mr. Zinder. However the original, small bar in the middle of the restaurant will be turned into a salad bar, he said.

A representative from Charlie Brown's did not return calls made by Town Topics before press time.

Opened in Kingston by Mr. Zinder in 1969, the first Good Time Charley's was followed by three more restaurants in 1972. In total, Mr. Zinder has owned seven Good Time Charley's restaurants, of which only Charley's Other Brother, on Rt. 537 in Eastampton Township, will remain.

Mr. Zinder will continue as owner of the latter, although his plans now include "retiring to Florida."

When asked why he has chosen to sell the restaurant's Kingston location, Mr. Zinder said: "I'm 75 years old; I'm tired."

Charlie Brown's Steakhouse has locations in North, Central, and South New Jersey, as well as New York and Pennsylvania. The chain most recently opened two stores in Pennsylvania, in Langhorne, by Oxford Valley Mall, and in Berwyn.

Other Charlie Brown's in Central New Jersey include locations in Edison, Alpha, Woodbridge, Green Brook, Highland Park, Hillsborough, Scotch Plains, and Union.