The bustling family restaurant and neighborhood favorite was known for its casual charm and local feel.
SAN ANTONIO — After nearly 46 years of serving homemade burgers, comfort food and memories to generations of San Antonians, Good Time Charlie’s Bar and Cafe has officially closed its doors.
The beloved restaurant located on Broadway and East Mulberry Avenue announced the closure in a press release on Thursday. Its last day of operation was Wednesday, October 22.
A spokesperson for the eatery said the closure marks the end of an era that began in December 1979, when friends Eddie Ruffo and Millard Stetler opened the spot as a live music bar. It later evolved into a bustling family restaurant and neighborhood favorite known for its casual charm and local feel.
The DoSeum, its next-door neighbor, “acquired the adjacent land” when it became available to support the children’s museum’s growth and programming needs, according to the press release.
“We’re grateful to Good Time Charlie’s for the generations of memories they’ve created,” said Dan Menelly, CEO of The DoSeum. “They have been good neighbors and we understand and appreciate the city’s deep affection for them and their delicious food.”
Good Time Charlie’s Co-founder Millard Stetler said the decision to close was unrelated to the sale and that both parties were “committed to honoring the restaurant’s legacy.”
“We are thrilled that this property is now in the good hands of The DoSeum, which was always our preferred outcome,” Stetler said. “The timing was right for us personally and reaching this outcome was always our preferred goal. We’re proud of our legacy and excited for what’s ahead.”
For four decades, Good Time Charlie’s served as a familiar stop for families, friends and regulars along the Broadway Corridor. The beloved eatery is remembered by the San Antonio community as a true local institution that lived up to its name.
