A familiar face is returning to the tri-state restaurant scene, emerging from last year's bankruptcy filing that resulted in 20 closed eateries and the loss of 1,400 jobs.

Now, under new ownership with revised menus, different uniforms and ongoing renovations, the Charlie Brown's chain is fighting back from the brink and bucking a trend that has seen a dramatic decline in the number of older family-oriented restaurants since the year 2000.

The revival of the Charlie Brown’s chain will secure the 1,100 jobs of workers who remained after the former owners, the New Jersey-based CB Holdings, suddenly closed half of its restaurants last November — 13 in New Jersey alone.

“As we go along, we’ll be adding more jobs as we expand or re-open at sites, like East Windsor,” explained Craig Godfrey, executive vice president for Praesidian Capital, the New York-based new owner of Charlie Brown’s. “We’ve already added 75.”

Each new restaurant the company opens would employ 40 to 70 workers.

Still in negotiations are plans to reopen the old East Windsor site on Route 571. Godfrey said the East Windsor restaurant is expected to re-open in 2012.

The re-opened Staten Island Charlie Brown’s is already proving to Praesidian that the measures it is taking to improve the chain are working.

“It’s our 21st restaurant and it’s doing well,’ said Godfrey, who pointed out that sales have improved over the past three months by more than 12 percent.

A number of factors figured into the closings last year, said Godfrey, including “the economy, real estate deals that were not making economic sense and being over-leveraged.”

In a look at the restaurant business over the past decade, the internet site 24/7 Wall Street detailed 10 restaurant chains that are disappearing from the American landscape. Most, like Charlie Brown’s, are family-oriented places that could not compete with more contemporary menus and dining experiences. Each, including such familiar names as Bennigan’s, Don Pablo’s, Big Boy and Tony Roma’s, saw dramatic sales declines from 2001-2010.

In their place, fast, casual food locations like Chipotle’s and Bobby Flay’s BBQ are multiplying and replacing their older counterparts.

“People who come back will find that we will still offer steaks, prime rib and our salad bar,” said Godfrey. “Our prices are mid-level. We’ll feature seasonal specialties. But none of the changes are going to be shocking.”

New menu entries such as Moroccan Blackened Salmon, Lobster Crab Cakes and Herb Crusted Pork Loin will join items in the under-500-calories range on the bill of fare.

All locations in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and New York will be upgraded with HD TVs and NFL Sunday Ticket programming. During happy hour and all day Sunday, the restaurants will offer $2 domestic pints and $3 for imports. Burgers and sandwiches under $20 and two pounds of buffalo wings for around $10 will be part of the draw. Jukeboxes and upbeat lounges will also be added.

With an initial investment of $10 million since acquiring the chain last summer, Praesidian now has Charlie Brown’s locations in Brielle, Carlstadt, Chatham, Denville, Edison, Fishkill, Hamilton, Lakewood, Maple Shade, Milburn, Old Tappan, Oradell, Scotch Plains, Toms River, Washington Township, Wayne, Westhampton and Woodbury, N.J. Locations in Springfield, Pa., and Staten Island, N.Y., complete the chain.

Charlie Brown’s was born in 1966 when three businessmen from Warren opened a steak house in their hometown. It became the first of the Charlie Brown’s restaurants in which steaks and prime rib were signature dishes.

“These are family restaurants,” Godfrey explained. “Depending on the time of day, customers change. In the afternoon we have local businessmen or people who come for a leisurely lunch. For dinner, families come.”

At the Charlie Brown’s Hamilton location on Whitehorse-Mercerville Road, which never closed, manager Kevin Baum calls the restaurant “a staple” in the community. His staff is already wearing new, black uniforms that replaced the white shirts with brown ties patrons may remember.

The former Charlie Brown’s location on Route 1 in West Windsor now houses the restaurant Pure. When asked if the chain would look for locations at nearby MarketFair or Quaker Bridge Mall, Godfrey said his company is “looking at all opportunities.”

Even with the economy in flux, Route 1 in West Windsor and Lawrence has seen a recent influx of new restaurants with the promise of more. Woody’s Bar-B-Q recently opened in Mercer Mall. Restaurateur Bobby Trigg replaced his BT restaurant at the old Charlie Brown’s location at the Palmer Inn with his Pure Restaurant and Lounge. Bobby Flay’s casual burger spot, BBQ, is expected to join MarketFair, also in West Windsor, in 2012. A Cheesecake Factory restaurant has just been approved for 2012 construction at Quaker Bridge Mall.

Just don't expect to see Charlie Brown at any of the restaurants that bear his name.

"There is no Charlie Brown," Godfrey explained.

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