Big Charlie's Harlem Grill was a busy spot featuring lots of live music. Owner Charlie Van Bergen, an African American man, was know as "Charlie Van" in the African American community.

The Albany Archives website, in an unsigned entry, writes:

“In 1933, seeking larger quarters, Big Charlie (Van Bergen) bought a former tailor shop at 52 ½ Hamilton St and turned it into Big Charlie’s, a club with a bigger bar, a dance floor, and a bandstand. By this time, …everyone in Albany knew about Big Charlie. His club featured what were called “sepia” acts, and despite (or perhaps due to) his notoriety, the club thrived. It was a gathering place for all types – visiting firemen, B-girls, musicians, thrill-seeking high-schoolers, and even State Legislators, who were spotted eating fried chicken.”

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