An article in the Anderson Independant reports the following

ANDERSON — In a brief announcement emailed to several businesses Wednesday, the Charlie T’s restaurant and bar on Hartwell Lake near Interstate 85 Exit 19 will close Sunday.

“To all our loyal customers and friends,” the announcement said, “Charlie T’s will be closing as of Sunday, September 27, 2009. Thanks for your support over the years.”

Charlie Bishop, who owns the Clemson Blvd. restaurant, Friday said the business will close after 12 years of operation at 3 p.m. Sunday. “We’ll stay open Sunday for the lunch crowd,” he said.

Bishop said that costs combined with slower sales were the two biggest business reasons for the shutdown.

“Insurance, county property and sales taxes, workman’s comp — they’ve all gone sky-high, and it just got to the point where (remaining open) is not feasible anymore,” Bishop said Friday.

“In the last six weeks it’s really gone down over last year,” he said. “Business always falls off after Labor Day, but this year was worse than normal. We just can’t predict the economy, when it’s coming back.”

Bishop said the hardest aspect of closing a business he had run for 12 years was telling his 65 full and part-time employees they were going to have to find new jobs. “Hopefully, all of them can land on their feet,” he said.

Stephanie Heidt, 21, is a part-time bartender at Charlie T’s. She said she had received a text message from a co-worker Wednesday telling her the restaurant was closing.

“Friday night is my last night bartending,” she said Thursday. “I love Charlie T’s, and will miss working there. (The owners) are all really good people. They really were great to work with and for.”