In 1975, following his retirement from professional baseball with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Charley Sands entered the restaurant industry, founding a chain of establishments known as Charley's. These restaurants were established across VA and NC, with the first location opening in Charlottesville, VA. The second location, Charley’s Lynchburg, opened its doors on September 24, 1980, at River Ridge Mall. In 2001, Charley’s introduced catering , offering full-service off-site hosting for all events, including business meetings, anniversaries, weddings, and birthdays. The catering menus feature both Charley’s signature favorites and a selection of innovative new entrees. Today, Charley’s LYH operates independently, owned by Rob and MJ Pearson.