Hot Off the Grill : The Charley's Blog

AUG
23

Second Annual Charley’s Scholarship Award Winner #4: Daniel Seok

August 23, 2010 by Charley's

When he’s not studying, rock climbing, snowboarding or fine-tuning his skills on the piano, Daniel loves grillin’ up fresh subs for Charley’s fanatics at the the Tuscon Mall in Tuscon, Arizona. (more…)

AUG
12

0

Second Annual Charley’s Scholarship Award Winner #3: Joshua Jones

August 12, 2010 by Charley's

Joshua is a wonderful member of the Charley’s family at the Westmoreland Mall location in Greensburg, Pennsylvania.

Joshua graduated from Greensburg Central Catholic High School. Joshua was the Captain of his high school hockey team and a member of the Pittsburgh Junior Penguins traveling hockey team. (more…)

AUG
09

1

Second Annual Charley’s Scholarship Award Winner #2: Chelsea Bailey

August 09, 2010 by Charley's

Chelsea graduated this year from Paul G. Blazer High School in Ashland, KY. Chelsea was an Honors Graduate, President of the Key Club and a member of the National Honor Society. (more…)

AUG
05

0

Second Annual Charley’s Scholarship Award Winner #1: Diana German

August 05, 2010 by Charley's

Diana German is a graduating senior from Glendale Senior High School whose commitment to service is exemplified in the classroom and extends beyond her two years of grillin’ up goodness at Charley’s in the Metro Center Mall in Arizona. (more…)

NOV
25

3

Happy Thanksgiving

November 25, 2009 by Charley's

It’s more than just the food at Charley’s. It’s about our people – customers, franchisees, associates, vendors that help make what we do great. I opened the first Charley’s at age 22 and since then it’s been the little things that have made a big difference: fresh, hot food; great people; the support of my family, and staying true to the strong values that drive the-whole-thing.

As we approach Thanksgiving I want thank to you for keeping in touch with us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter; for eating in our restaurants; and for sending great ideas to keep making us better.

Last week at the office during a meeting we went around the table and everyone said what they’re grateful for – many of us said family, health and our co-workers. This year has really brought us all back to our essence, to our core values, to what matters most – taking care of people and making great food.

What are you thankful for this year? We hope that during a trying year for all of us you’ve been able to reflect on some of the little things in your life that bring you joy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Charley

Happy Thanksgiving

It’s more than just the food at Charley’s. It’s about our people – customers, franchisees, associates, vendors that help make what we do great. I opened the first Charley’s at age 22 and since then it’s been the little things that have made a big difference: fresh, hot food; great people; the support of my family, and staying true to the strong values that drive the-whole-thing.

As we approach Thanksgiving I want thank to you for keeping in touch with us on our blog, Facebook and Twitter; for eating in our restaurants; and for sending great ideas to keep making us better.

Last week at the office during a meeting we went around the table and everyone said what they’re grateful for – many of us said family, health and our co-workers. This year has really brought us all back to our essence, to our core values, to what matters most – taking care of people and making great food.

What are you thankful for this year? We hope that during a trying year for all of us you’ve been able to reflect on some of the little things in your life that bring you joy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

-Charley

OCT
27

11

The Grill & The Master

October 27, 2009 by Charley's

Grill Master

“I had someone come to work for Charley’s who had previously been with another QSR [quick service restaurant] concept. This person was shaking and sweating because they were used to seeing a frozen burger run through a chain broiler for 2 minutes and drop into a bin for 1 hour. Now, they had a hot plate of steel in front of them, fresh ingredients and less than 90 seconds with a customer staring at them. Little different, huh?” (more…)

SEP
11

3

The Artist, The Visual Brand Guardian

September 11, 2009 by Charley's

The Vitals: Ben LaPlaca – Creative Director: Charley’s Grilled Subs

Has been with the company for 2.5 years and consulted for 6 months prior to that

Degree in illustration with a minor in graphic design.

What does the creative director of a QSR concept do?

Anything that bares the Charley’s logo comes across my desk… or at least it’s supposed to. Of course in a franchise model sometimes it doesn’t, which means a franchisee is putting their own feet on the street for promotion. I can’t hate that, but I still own the visual brand.

Talk about the differences between being an artist and a visual brand guardian in a corporate environment.

My artistic process is meticulous. If I’m painting, there’s a consistency to my attention paid to the entire canvas just as there is a consistency in my attention paid to every aspect of the visual representation of this brand. So, the jump isn’t as abrupt as you might think.

How did you go from illustration and an artist to a corporate creative director?

One: I’m still an artist [smiles, but makes it clear]. Two: I never wanted to show in galleries. I want to tell stories, visually. I love editorial illustration because you can read the text, but a job well done takes the consumer from A to Z in one visual. When a logo can convey a brand, it’s truly incredible. So developing and evolving a brand, visually – telling that story to a customer and guiding their experience – it works for me.

What are some brand’s that are telling great stories?

There are definitely some brands that I love, but I don’t know if they are telling great stories. I might be bias though – I live in this world but I don’t believe the hype. I feel like I’m being sold by most brands, and then I judge how well they are doing on their sell.

There are a few brands that I do buy because I like their product. Nike, Lifted Research Group, Mac [Apple] – though I refuse to put the sticker on my car [note that there is a Detroit Tigers sticker on his car]. Also, sports are a huge part of my life. I view each league as a brand and each team as a brand within that brand. Some individual athletes are brands too.

What is your medium of choice, outside the office?

Graffiti was a huge part of my life. I’ve been writing this town for a long time. The thing about graffiti… it’s about everything that surrounds it: street and urban culture. Active participants see it as a true art form. It’s kind of like skateboard art – a mix of pop culture and graphic design. Urban textures help to define current styles, many of which are used in mainstream design. I stopped graffiti when I moved to New York years ago. It was like quitting heroin.

I did a Art Al Fresco this year at Art Al Fresco that integrated graffiti, graphic design, hand cut stencils, textures and more in a controlled, legal manner. It’s “sellout” from my true graffiti days, I know, because I got down on a wall legally, but oh well.

Art Al Fresco? What’s that?

The event started in Columbus last year. The concept…well I never read it [the mission statement]. I see it bringing art into the real world. Art is too often reserved for, or at least perceived as, galleries, museums and private collections. It’s elitist. Some people are afraid to go into the Wex Art Al Fresco is the opportunity for people to interact with art in a space where they feel comfortable; where they can talk as loud as they want and interact with it however they want.

What made you get involved this year?

Actually I got involved last year with 2 friends, all of us are from the graffiti and skate culture. Our piece last year won best-in-show. It was nice to find some recognition from a city we’ve contributed our talents to for many years.

This year the event nearly got canned. There were budget issues. I’m glad it didn’t because I suspect it’s great for local businesses.

Ok, so give us a tip here Mr. Best in Show and Brand Guardian

Specific to digital design: Keyboard shortcuts. Learn them. Love them. If I never have to touch a mouse, I’m a happy person.

Ben lives in Columbus, Ohio (home of Charley’s HQ) with his wife who is also very active in the arts.

Art Al Fresco

The Vitals: Ben LaPlaca – Creative Director: Charley’s Grilled Subs

Ben has been with the company for 2.5 years and consulted for 6 months prior to that

Ben has a degree in illustration with a minor in graphic design. (more…)

Getting Hungry Yet? Take a second and find a Charley's near you.