Mad River Bar & Grille at 1110 S. Charles St. in Federal Hill will reopen this fall as The Charles. It closed this past May for a renovation and rebranding. The original owners of Mad River are River Partners, LLC based in New York City. David Yike and Andrew Wheeler joined on as operating partners last August. Yike relocated to Baltimore from Philadelphia after working with Kimpton Hotels and Wheeler worked at Mad River for more than six years before becoming a partner.

The team released the following in a statement to SouthBMore.com: “The Charles, Baltimore’s newest dining destination, located in the heart of Federal Hill is set to open Fall 2017. The 1900’s building has been transformed into a modern industrial space featuring elegant banquette seating with two levels of open space meant to encourage socializing. The upscale, yet approachable menu will be released later this Summer.”

The Charles is in the process of hiring an executive chef. The Charles’ drink menu will include cocktails with a focus on fresh ingredients.

The Charles will be upscale according to Yike and will have a stricter dress code than Mad River. “We want people to treat it as a night out and we are really trying to shake the stigma of Mad River,” he said.

The renovation is progressing well, according to Yike. He said the goal is the highlight the hidden character of the 5,100 sq. ft. building and let the space showcase itself. The building, which was a former bank, features 20 ft. ceilings, original trim work, and the original vault.

About the Author: Kevin Lynch Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at Founder and Publisher of SouthBmore.com, longtime resident of South Baltimore, and a graduate of Towson University. Diehard Ravens and O's fan, beach volleyball enthusiast, dog lover, and "bar food" foodie. Email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter at @SoBoKevin