About Us
Since our founding in 1986, Charleys Philly Steaks has served the No. 1 Cheesesteak in the World, and over 30 years later, Charleys has more than 630 locations open in the United States and around the world. Charleys Philly Steaks has won millions of fans by:
- Focusing on quality ingredients, including 100% USDA choice steak
- Implementing a simple menu
- Providing incredible customer service
As a franchise opportunity, Charleys Philly Steaks can’t be beat. With a chic, new restaurant design, the addition of wings to our menu, streamlined operations, and exceptional training, Charleys Philly Steaks is ready for national expansion.
“Our goal is to reach 3,000 stores in the coming years,” says Charley Shin, CEO and founder of Charleys Philly Steaks. “We’ve been growing at about 60 stores a year for the past several years, and about 70% of our growth comes from our existing franchisees reinvesting in the brand – which is extremely positive. We exist to help our franchisees become successful in business, and we want to help as many entrepreneurs as we can. This brand has never been more successful than it is today, and we’ve never been more excited about the future.”
We Live by 3 Words: Make Customers Happy
Ever since Charley Shin persuaded his mother to invest her savings in a relatively unknown cheesesteak restaurant right across the street from The Ohio State University campus in 1986, he’s lived by three words: Make Customers Happy.
At the time, the cheesesteak was relatively unknown outside of Philadelphia, and Charley grew his business one cheesesteak at a time. In 2020, the cheesesteak is a wildly popular sandwich, appearing on menus from pizza chains to chic, high-end restaurants. Today, Charleys Philly Steaks is the largest cheesesteak franchise in the world, largely because of Charley’s commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience.
“We know that in the United States, nobody eats because they’re hungry – customers want an experience,” Charley says. “We’re always working on ways to increase our customer base, and by adding wings to our menu, we get to broaden our appeal. Our cheesesteaks are already head and shoulders above anything found in Philadelphia, and we’re just going to continue to treat our customers as individuals and ensure that they’re happy when they leave our restaurants. This has been the secret to our success.”
