Start spreading the news, Charleston is about to hit a high note! A jazz-inspired restaurant and bar, with roots stretching back to the 1900s, is opening next year.
Fueled by his great-grandfather’s legacy and a passion for jazz, Christopher Smith is bringing The Chairman’s Room to life.
“I had a great-grandfather who got me hooked on the music and really introduced me to the world of the greats–Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Ray Charles, the whole Rat Pack. I started listening and it gave me this overwhelming feeling of just relaxation, joy and a euphoric feeling. I just fell in love with it. I’ve been listening to that style of music for the past 18 years because of that man,” Smith told What Now Charleston.
Smith has spent nearly a decade working at various venues in the hospitality industry and is now eager to use his experience to open his own spot.
Although he is keeping the interior a secret to preserve the surprise for the grand opening, The Chairman’s Room ambiance will capture the spirit of the golden era.
“If you’ve seen the movie The Great Gatsby and you’re familiar with Gatsby-style establishments, it’s going to mirror that in a very upscale, elegant fashion,” Smith said.
To stay true to the theme, the restaurant will feature live music filling the air and even offer a space for dancing after dinner.
“I want to be a destination place. You come in, you listen to live music every night from very, very selected musicians—whether it be people who specialize in smooth jazz or swing jazz, really embodying that 1950s, 1960s era. You come in at six o’clock, you sit down, you have dinner, the music starts at nine, you stay the whole time, and you get to a point where you just want to get up and dance.”
The menu will showcase old-school class, offering classic food and drinks popular during the era.
“I mean the menu, I’m really excited about that. We’re doing things like Oysters Rockefeller, Chicken a la King, desserts like Baked Alaska. We’re doing Tableside Caesar. I want the presentation of these dishes to be as pristine as possible,” Smith said.
He continued, “I’m wanting to bring signature cocktails into the mix—things like the Vesper—and really focus on classics like martinis, negronis, manhattans, Brandy Alexander, a sidecar, and Aperol Spritz. Not a lot of people know that the Aperol Spritz has been around for 120 years. We’re working with local liquor and champagne reps to bring out the finest products.”
Smith aims to stay true to his concept and hopes to replicate it in a few surrounding markets.
“I think the most rewarding part of something like this would be having an establishment that stays true blue to its roots. This is something where it’s going to be independently owned until it doesn’t exist anymore,” Smith said. “What I think is going to make me most excited about is people coming from other states and saying, ‘I heard about this place, it was on our list.’”
While The Chairman’s Room official opening date has yet to be announced, Smith hopes to debut in April 2026. For updates, follow along on Instagram.
