A longtime downtown Redding restaurant that rebranded a little over a year ago has closed as its owners announce a pivot to their next business venture while still focusing on the remaining Anderson location of the restaurant.
Charlew’s Tap House, formerly Mary’s Pizza Shack, announced on Facebook that its Redding location has closed and they’re consolidating operations to their remaining Charlew’s Tap House, a busier location in the Shasta Gateway mall in Anderson.
But the downtown Redding building on Shasta Street isn’t expected to be empty for long.
“We got an individual that offered to purchase the restaurant, so it was perfect timing because we’re going into a new adventure,” co-owner Charles “Charlew” Byerly said Tuesday.
That new adventure is something food-related that Byerly said he and his wife, Kathy, have been working on for about 15 years. He declined to say exactly what the new business is.
“So we’re looking at doing that; we got about five months left before we actually launch it. We’re thinking of (opening) in Anderson,” he said.
As for the restaurant that will open in place of Charlew’s in Redding, Byerly said he will let the owners announce that when they are ready.
“The individual is well-known and I think they’re going to do good, really good. It was an opportunity for them, and an opportunity for us and it worked out,” Byerly said.
The Byerly’s brought Mary’s Pizza Shack to Shasta County when they opened in Anderson in 2007. They opened a second location in Redding in 2011.
Then in early 2022, the Byerly’s rebranded their two Mary’s locations as Charlew’s Tap House.
Sitting in his former Redding restaurant Tuesday as work to move equipment to Anderson was going on, Byerly talked about the two locations.
He said one difference between Anderson and Redding was competition.
“Competition in our area, there’s so many good restaurants around here,” he said of Redding. “We consider ourselves to be a very good restaurant, and a lot of longevity.”
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He calls Anderson “our bread and butter” location.
However, he said “the biggest decision maker was the individual who made us an offer” in Redding.
The location on Shasta Street just off Highway 44 entering downtown Redding from the east has had several restaurants over the decades.
Before Mary’s Pizza Shack opened, it was Mavericks. From 1990 to 1999, it was home to the Wild Heifer.
Over the years, the Byerly’s have done different things to mix it up at their restaurant.
In 2018, they swapped out their bar and put in a wall of 18 beer taps (12 in Anderson), calling it the “Beer Wall.” It was the North State’s first self-serve beer bar.
Byerly said the beer wall in Redding is for sale.
More recently, in Redding, the Byerlys built a fenced outdoor patio.
“This downtown is a good little area, but it’s time to move on,” Byerly said.
David Benda covers business, development and anything else that comes up for the USA TODAY Network in Redding. He also writes the weekly “Buzz on the Street” column. He’s part of a team of dedicated reporters that investigate wrongdoing, cover breaking news and tell other stories about your community. Reach him on Twitter @DavidBenda_RS or by phone at 1-530-225-8219. To support and sustain this work, please subscribe today.
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