Chicken Charlie’s was a steak and chicken restaurant, part of a chain of Schwartz’s restaurants, which used to have a location in Kalamazoo, at 3124 S. Westnedge. While the restaurant didn’t show up in city directories until around 1934, under Chick Anna, the Kalamazoo gazette was running ads for hiring staff since 1928. The franchise was started and ran by Charlie Schwartz until his retirement in 1986. Four years later, in December of 1990, Chicken Charlie’s declared bankruptcy and was sold to Steven Montayne, who renovated the site into a Damon’s franchise.

Other than serving as a restaurant, Chicken Charlie’s was also used as a meeting place for community clubs and organizations, like the Kalamazoo Heating and Cooling Association, and the South Rotary Club.