Bronco Charlie’s Restaurant
May 5, 2008
Bronco Charlie’s has been a well known institution in the Oakdale, NY community. Although its era is coming to a close, it still holds a special place in the hearts and minds of the community. Did you celebrate a special occasion at this restaurant? Do you have fond memories to share about this community institution? We would love to hear from you!
Entry Filed under: Oakdale NY, Restaurant. Tags: Bronco Charlie's, Oakdale NY, Restaurant.
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1.
Dan | May 5, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Just this weekend, I was telling my wife that we used to go there when I was a child. Does this mean, they are tearing down the building?
2.
lisshquestions | May 5, 2008 at 5:39 pm
I can only tell you what I know, and that is what appeared In today’s edition of the school newspaper, The Lion’s Voice*, “the building was sold to a private developer.” To quote a little further from this article: “Currently, Dowling College is unsure of the developer’s exact plan for “Bronco Charlie’s,” but of course, demolition will come first.”
*Barba, Karissa. Bronco Charlie’s: Sold: Dowling Sells Montauk Hwy Building to Developer. Lion’s Voice. Oakdale, NY. May 2008. p. 1.
3.
Mark Rothenberg | May 9, 2008 at 5:07 pm
My parents started going there in the late 1940’s, and I remember dining there from the 1950’s-1970’s, on many festive occasions. My parents said that when they first dined there there, “Bronco” Charlie was fairly old, but still very much still alive. When I first went there as a child, my folks said that said his wife was still living. The original log cabin, built by the owner, was particularly enjoyable, shades of the “wild west” and of Buffalo Bill, at a time when evoking that imagery was esp. popular. I think that there was something colorfully biographical on the back of the menu about “Bronco” Charlie’s life. The cuisine was American, the food and service good. Of couurse this was in the days before there was much culnary variety, from which to choose, which made it a logical choice, as well as it’s reasonable proximity to home. My family’s memories of the place are fond. Sorry to see this landmark slip away.
4.
Kathy | May 15, 2008 at 2:29 pm
Tear it down? Is it not a registered historical landmark?
5.
jerkily | June 3, 2008 at 3:35 am
Jerkily says : I absolutely agree with this !
6.
Untouchability | June 19, 2008 at 4:41 am
Somehow i missed the point. Probably lost in translation
Anyway … nice blog to visit.
cheers, Untouchability.
7.
mike resnick | November 11, 2008 at 10:40 pm
live in oakdale from the 70’s and remember eatting there as a child. don’t tear it don’t at least relocate the oringinal building
8.
ken m | December 9, 2008 at 9:30 pm
I too visited this place from Brentwood on several occasions. Our tradition was Mother’s Day. We had about 12-15 relatives for dinner every Mother’s Day. I remember the shrimp cocktail and the steaks. I rmember my mom ordering the same. I looked forward to going there and the food was very good. Too bad most good things must end but they do.
9.
Stacy Ladas | January 24, 2009 at 9:14 pm
I worked at Bronco Charlies around 1977. The place was great. We had a German Chef, and I remember him making homemade apple strudel that was delicous. He would also make Sauerbraten that would marinate for days.
I was in my late teens and did the bookkeeping. Sometimes I would help out waiting table during lunch. We had tray service, and I had to learn to carry those large trays. It’s a shame to see what has happened to the place. When did it go downhill ?
10.
Jack Muller | March 5, 2009 at 1:09 am
My father was the manager at Bronco Charlies for over 30 something years. The business was sold to a couple named the Marxes by Bronco Charlie. They expanded during the 50’s and 60’s and it was passed down to there son Ray. Ray died of a heart attack and it was then ran by his son/stepson? Ralph. This is when the business started to go downhill. He ran it down to the point where he had to sell it to a couple of brothers (sorry I can’t remember their names) and they in turn ran it further down until it closed in the late 1980’s. The place had around four different chefs and a full time baker named Sam. I, as a kid used to help out in the early 70’s doing dishes and helping Sam in the bakery. My father passed back in 2001. It was a great place with great food and I have many memories of the people that worked there and the holiday dinners that I had there.
11.
Patricia D. Hilton | March 11, 2009 at 2:37 am
My Mother worked for Bronco Charlies in the 50’s and 60’s. For anyone who wants to remember her name was Theresa Cuttler, she was a long time employee and when I was just a little girl, I met him on his 100th birthday. He tried to give me this large jar full of pennies but Mom said no – found out later that it was his “Indian Head Penny” collection. I am very sad to see that this wonderful restaurant that brought people in from all over is in such disrepair – I hope that someone takes an interest and at least perserves the original log cabin built by Bronco Charlie himself.
12.
CP | April 28, 2009 at 10:14 pm
THey knocked it down today :0(
13.
Dennis | May 3, 2009 at 11:30 pm
I worked at Bronco Charlies in 68-71 in the original Log Cabin as it was known as a busboy while attending College. It was a great place . I remember Mrs Marx and her first husband, who worked in the laundry room.It was always the busiest on Mothers Day. Sad that they did not at least keep the original Log Cabin part as i was told that was where the real Bronco Charlie first started his business,
14.
David Hendrickson | May 11, 2009 at 5:56 pm
My Dads uncle Ferdie Marx was the guy who purchased it from Bronco Charlie. My family was just talking about the place and the times back then.Sad to see history leave no mark.