Charly’s Waterfront in Essex is always looking for ways to reinvent itself. Sometimes, that means thinking outside traditional dining.
As boating season comes into full swing, Charly’s will open a nine-hole mini golf course on June 1, available for children’s birthday parties. It’s part of an expansion that also includes a new tiki bar that opened April 11, an area called Charly’s Lawns for outdoor games and an arcade.
Co-owner Ryan Perlberg consistently asks customers how to improve their experience and adjusts accordingly.
“Our community here is very strong, and we really feel like we are a part of it,” Perlberg said. “We are 20 minutes from downtown, have plenty of parking, as well as transient slips. [We are] family- and dog-friendly.”
The restaurant is located within the Baltimore Boating Center, which has private charters, boat sales and the Freedom Boat Club, a members-only group that offers cruises, fishing trips and family outings.
Charly’s also has a catering business with a venue that features a courtyard, a covered deck and outdoor bar.
Other waterfront restaurants in the area have struggled. The Crazy Tuna Bar & Grille in Essex closed Oct. 12. The restaurant was known for a beachy atmosphere, complete with sand beneath the picnic tables; seafood dishes; and live music that could be heard from boats docked nearby.
Earlier this month, Sunset Cove, known as “Middle River’s original beach bar,” also permanently closed, according to a social media announcement.
Baltimore Sun reporter Kendyl Kearly contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich.