A Visit To Charlie's Diner

A corner sentinel for 40 years, Charlie’s Diner is the only landmark in a neighborhood of blue-collar people who love their burgers thick and juicy along with fries and a giant pickle. Nina has managed Charlie's for 30 years and says customers never complain. Prices go up when costs go up and customers understand but they like to moan because it's the fashionable thing to do. I ask Nina about Charlie, for whom the diner is named. She says she never met him but folks still come in and say Charlie said to feed them and to put it on the cuff. They’ll pay the bill later. She laughs and tells them Charlie hasn’t told her that yet. And it’s no wonder, Nina says. Charlie died 40 years ago, the week the diner opened. He was a quiet mynah bird, never said a word. Donal Mahoney