Charleys Philly Steaks opens in a Bradenton Walmart with a second one planned this year

Charleys Philly Steaks opened Thursday in a Bradenton Walmart.

It’s the first of its brand to open in Bradenton, but another is coming this fall.

As customers streamed in to place their orders at 5315 Cortez Road W., franchise owner Mena Kahlil, 38, stood to one side, beaming.

“So far, great,” Kahlil said when asked how everything was going on the first day of business.

Kahlil is also the franchise owner of a second Charleys that he hopes to open by August in the Walmart at 2911 53rd Ave. E., near U.S. 301.

In addition to cheesesteaks, the Charleys menu includes wings, salads, drinks and shakes.

Charleys is open 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

There were previously McDonald’s franchises in the two Bradenton Walmart stores. The McDonald’s restaurants closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In an earnings call on July 28, 2020, McDonald’s said it was accelerating some restaurant closings. Of the 200 U.S. closures for the year, more than half were for low-volume restaurants in Walmart stores.

Restaurants in stand-alone locations with drive-thrus fared better during the COVID-19 pandemic than those in Walmarts and malls.

Among other Bradenton restaurants that closed permanently during the pandemic were Kruk’s Philly Steaks, 5231 University Parkway, Ruby Tuesday, 8306 Tourist Center Drive, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, 4406 53rd Ave. E., Cleveland Kitchen, 2539 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Sweet Tomatoes and Jason’s Deli, both on University Parkway and Land of a Thousand Hills, 1822 59th St W.

“Charleys Philly Steaks founder and CEO Charley Shin tasted his first Philly Cheesesteak back in 1985 while attending The Ohio State University. As a young undergrad with an appetite for success, Shin knew he wanted to share this sandwich experience with others in a big way,” the company website says.

“After experimenting with countless ingredients and perfecting his recipe, Shin turned his entrepreneurial dreams into reality in 1986 when he opened his first restaurant called Charley’s Steakery, a 450-square-foot space near The Ohio State University campus,” the website says.