By Camilo Fonseca Globe Staff, Updated January 28, 2026, 4:11 p.m.
Charlie’s Kitchen, a Cambridgeinstitution known for its cheap drinks and burgers, is closed “until further notice,” the restaurant said Wednesday.
In a video posted on social media, the second floor of the restaurantappeared to have significant water damage, with several ceiling tiles lying shattered on the wet floor.
“We look forward to seeing you when we get everything back [in] order,” read the post.
On Wednesday, owner David Oshima said the damage was caused by an “appliance malfunction.” He declined to give further details, saying that city inspectors were still assessing the extent of the damage.
“I’m not a plumber, I’m not an electrician,” he said. It wasn’t immediately clear if the malfunction was connected to the winter storm that buried the region in more than 20 inches of snow over the weekend.
Just outside Harvard Square, Charlie’s Kitchen has been a fixture in the area since the 1950s. The building it occupies was built in 1920, according to city assessing data.
Denise Jillson, executive director of the Harvard Square Business Association, said the news was “pretty upsetting.”
Charlie’s was slated to participate in Harvard Square’s annual chocolate tasting festival this weekend. Jillson said the owners are hoping to reopen by then, but it’s not clear whether they will be able to.
Oshima, who bought the restaurant in 2024, suggested the damage may be serious.
“I’ve always hoped to keep Charlie’s going for another 75 years,” Oshima said. “But right now, I have to worry about my employees first.”