By Lulu

One of the most happening bars in the greater Daytona area is owned by a guy known by friends as “Little C”, whose father was “Big C”! Originally from Louisiana, Missouri he migrated to Florida years ago. Since growing up tinkering on cars with Big C, Charlie has spent his life building cars. In 2004, he was commissioned to build the “General Lees” for the remake of Dukes of Hazzard featuring Jessica Simpson and Johnnie Knoxville. He built over 30 of them thanks to a friend, Terry Wilcock, who subcontracted him for the builds. Charlie still has car #7 from the movie. His business, Little C’s Customs, was featured in the reality TV show South Beach Classics back in 2016. I have been witness to #7 burning rubber a time or two at his current “past time”, and latest endeavor, Sorry Charlie’s Corner. Two years ago, his partner in life for the past twenty-seven years, Amie Preston, helped him open Sorry Charlie’s, formerly Mike’s Corner, he jokingly says it was her Valentine gift! There isn’t a girl working harder to make this “gift” a success! The bar is in Samsula at 3705 Hwy 44, a great stop after Billy Lane’s races at New Smyrna Speedway.

Not only has Charlie been know for building cars. He had a bike featured in Easy Rider Magazine in August 2006. In the article, Charlie stated that he wanted the sleek bike “to be like my next girlfriend…hourglass, wide, narrow, wide.” A picture of the bike from the magazine is featured here. He has 3 bikes that he rides still in his stable a 1963 Panhead, 2016 Street Glide and a 07 Electric Glide. But as busy as the bar keeps him, I doubt he gets much time on two wheels.

His car business now is just for private builds and his son Kyler helps at the shop. He also builds other really cool stuff, like the tables from car motors inside the bar. Great improvements in the parking lot and flooring inside have happened in the past 2 years, and as a Crown Royal drinker I am hoping for a liquor license in his future. They will have full liquor on property for Bike Week 2024 thanks to the All American Club. Sorry Charlies will feature plenty of live entertainment for Bike Week, including a band where one of the members has played at Kid Rocks Bar in Nashville, a Miss Sorry Charlie Contest, and Chicken Shit Bingo. Charlie hasn’t been in the bar business before, although his grandpa and uncle owned bars when he was young. But he seems to have a keen sense of what it takes to make people happy and coming back for more. And he is great at marketing Sorry Charlie’s, even offering a free tattoo at Tropical Tattoo and 20 free beers if you get his logo tatted on your body. Over 50 peeps have taken advantage of the deal so far.

Charlie’s bar also has been a great place for hosting charity events and has helped raise funds for Wounded Vets, Veterans Foundation, Jason Raynor Foundation and loves to be a stop for poker runs. Look for a huge car show on Father’s Day 2024. Stop in and visit the great staff at Sorry Charlie’s, you won’t be SORRY!!!