A Harrison restaurant that had garnered significant critical acclaim over the years suddenly shuttered over the weekend, with one of the biggest hospitality brands in the Garden State already committed to take over the space.
Charley, a 65-seat restaurant inside Harrison Urby, was a collaboration between investor David Barry and chef Kurt Gutenbrunner when it opened in 2022. Gutenbrunner’s pedigree was noteworthy, running the kitchen at the Michelin-starred Viennese West Village spot Wallsé.
The menu at Charley featured a variety of Central European dishes, along with a weekend bottomless brunch service that became a hit with locals. The restaurant had no public signs of trouble before it abruptly closed on August 23, a move announced via a sudden Instagram post.
Despite the shock closing, the move to shut down Charley was clearly in motion behind the scenes. Jersey Digs has learned via an email sent to residents at Harrison Urby that a brand-new concept from the team at Ani Ramen has committed to opening in the space.
“Charley became a true neighborhood destination, and we’re thrilled to welcome Ani Ramen to carry that forward for our residents and neighbors,” said David Barry, Founder and CEO of Urby in a statement.
Urby also announced in the email that they will be teaming up with Ani Ramen later this fall to give residents of the building a “first taste” of what to expect at the new restaurant.
“We want to express how excited we are to finally team up with Urby! As long-time fans, we can’t wait to introduce our new Ani Ramen concept to this neighborhood,” said Luck Sarabhayavanija, Founder of Montclair Hospitality Group.
While a formal name for the new eatery has not been announced, it will perhaps unsurprisingly focus on Japanese-style cuisine. Ani Ramen has become a staple in the New Jersey dining scene since being founded in Montclair in 2014, serving a variety of custom signature noodles, bao buns, homemade crispy gyoza, and Japanese Izakaya small plates, alongside delicacies like kurobuta sausage.
The restaurant has significantly expanded across the state since then, with its Princeton spot ranking as its seventh New Jersey outpost. Ani Ramen additionally operates a restaurant in Manhattan inside Brookfield Place. They hope to launch their latest Harrison endeavor sometime in early 2027.
Editor’s note: This article was updated from an earlier version to add quotes about the restaurant that were released via a statement.
